As soon as Victoria had put Evelyn to bed, she had gone downstairs where Homelander was waiting for her in the kitchen. He was stood in front of the fridge, peering into it and pulling out the carton of milk. Victoria watched him as she stood on the other side of the breakfast bar. Folding her arms over her chest, she waited for him to say something first. He poured himself a glass of milk, placing the carton away and then tugging a bottle of water out from the fridge. He walked over to the breakfast bar and set the bottle down as he kept hold of his glass. Sliding it towards his wife, he watched her eye it with caution.

"It's not drugged if that's what you're worried about," he said to her and she eyed him suspiciously but she took it. She turned the cap and found it hadn't been unscrewed before. Taking a sip of the water, she sat down on the stool as he remained stood, sipping on his glass of milk.

"We need to talk about this," Victoria said to him and he nodded, agreeing entirely with what she was saying. "What you did to me tonight was…I can't even explain, John. Do you know how shitty it made me feel? Everyone was there and they knew that I had no idea."

Homelander sighed at hearing her, placing his glass down onto the worktop. "Well, I figured it would be a good boost for the ratings."

"I know that we might not get on, but I would never have announced it like that to you if I knew before you," Victoria replied with a shake of her head. He could see she was getting angry again. She'd calmed down in the car, almost relaxing as Homelander kept his arm around her shoulders, but now her anger had returned.

"I find this so amusing," Homelander said to her. "You have no regard for my feelings. I've seen that from how you insist on skulking around with Supersonic, but I'm expected to be concerned about your feelings. It's just amusing, don't you think?"

"That's not true," Victoria said to him with a firm shake of her head, grip on her bottle of water tightening. She could feel the rage inside of her growing and she wanted to lash out at him. She wanted to argue with him and tell him that he was nothing but an arrogant asshole. She just knew that wouldn't get her anywhere. She had to be careful because it wasn't just her in this: it was Alex too.

"What's not true?" Homelander asked her. "I've heard you with him and I just don't get it. You think he's better than me?"

"John, how many times do I need to tell you that there is nothing going on between us?" Victoria demanded from her husband. "He's just been a friend and that's all. It's not as if I have many of them."

"But you want him to be more than that, don't you?" Homelander asked her. "I might not have heard all of your conversation with him, but I know that look on your face. You used to save it for me."

"I'm your wife," Victoria replied. "I'm not going anywhere. I'll stay away from Supersonic if that's what you want, but I can't keep doing this…defending myself…trying to make you see sense…it's exhausting. Aren't you tired of it all?"

He remained mute. Of course he was tired of it all. He kept silent, eyes scrutinising her and trying to work out if she was being honest with him. He continued watching, not giving her a moment to escape his gaze and she didn't back down. She wasn't going to let him think that she was afraid of him or that she was lying. He just nodded his head slowly after that, lips curving up into a smile.

"More than exhausted," he confessed to her and that much was true. "I know that things between us haven't been great as of late. We've argued more than I care to admit. You've avoided me. But there was a time when we were good, Vicky. You knew the truth, but you were still able to be around me…we had a good time…took Evelyn on walks…went to events together…do you remember what we did after that interview Ashley made you do? You answered every question perfectly and I took you to the drive thru and we just sat in the car park in silence as you ate your burger and fries. But it…it was comfortable…wasn't it? We were comfortable together and there's been times when we've been good…when I've made you happy."

Victoria hardly wanted to tell him that she guessed that was maybe a symptom of Stockholm Syndrome. She bit her tongue and knew that this would keep him on side. She might have done all of that before. She might have been able to smile and laugh around him. She might not have hated him. She didn't hate him, not then. She knew he was a monster, but he was still her Homelander. He was still John.

But the more time she spent with him, the more she resented him and everything he did. Every decision he made caused her to despise him. She thought about how he had behaved at his birthday. She thought about how he had spoken to her over recent months. She thought about how he had threatened to take Evelyn from her if she didn't do as he asked. There might have been a time when she had wanted him, but she knew that time was gone. Now, she just wanted to take Evelyn away from him.

But Billy would do everything he could to make that happen. She knew that he would. And then there would be her and Evelyn. They would be free. Except it wouldn't just be them two. Moving a hand to her stomach, she knew that there was a chance it could be three of them. She kept her hand there, remembering how before she hadn't even wanted Evelyn but as soon as she had been born everything had changed. She couldn't imagine loving her any more than she did. She knew it would be the same for the baby inside of her.

And so she knew she had to try harder. She had to buy Billy time. She had to keep Homelander on side for her brother and for everyone else. She nodded her head slowly as she came to that realisation.

"I don't want to argue with you," Victoria said to him. "I don't want to fight."

"And you think that I do?"

"No, but I think that you need to learn how to trust me," Victoria said. "That means you can't get jealous and lash out at me whenever I talk to Supersonic because chances are I'll see him around if he lives in the Tower. I'll stay away from him but I'm not ignoring him if I see him in the corridor."

Homelander scoffed. "You're not the one who has to work with him," he complained in a low voice. "I should have vetoed the decision to bring him on board. It's a joke."

"He was one of the best candidates," Victoria just responded with a nonchalant shrug. "But he's not coming in between us, okay? I mean it. I…I will make an effort," she said, trying to keep down the lump in her throat and hoping he wouldn't be able to see how hard this was for her. "I will make an effort for us to be a family, but that means you make an effort too."

He let out a deep breath and looked to the ceiling. He picked his glass up and then took another sip of the milk. Setting it down, he nodded his head.

"Fine," he agreed with her.

"Okay," Victoria said, feeling slightly relieved that she didn't have to listen to him push back. "So, I guess we should discuss the baby."

"I suspect that might be for the best," he agreed with her and went to sit down next to her on one of the barstools, depositing his empty glass in the sink on his way. Moving his cape to the side, he perched down on the chair and clasped his hands on top of the worktop. "We both know how difficult your pregnancy was with Evelyn. I don't want to see you go through that again."

"It wouldn't be my first choice either," Victoria said, a sense of dread rising up inside of her. "I almost died last time."

"But we know this time that the key will be to rest," Homelander said to her. "I spoke with doctors today before I went to American Hero and they informed me that you need complete and utter rest…that means staying around the Tower, no public appearances, nothing that causes you stress. You are alright for the first month to go about your business because it will be early, but Evelyn came premature and the chances are this one might. That means after the first month you need to rest."

"Good job my old boss doesn't seem to want me back," Victoria commented.

"Why?" he asked, brows knitted together.

She waved a hand. "I don't know. I guess it might be because I'm part of Vought," she said, not wanting to tell him that it was probably because of him. She knew that definitely wouldn't go down well at all. "But it doesn't matter. I'm not going back now anyway."

"But if they turned you away then you-"

"-John, honestly, it's fine," Victoria interrupted him, not wanting to get into it. "We have bigger things to worry about right now. I mean…I'm kind of freaking out about all of this."

"Hey, look at me," Homelander said and he moved his hand towards her cheek. His cold fingers ran along her skin softly and she found herself almost transfixed by his light blue gaze. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you, alright? I…the choice I made before…when I chose to save you…I'd always choose to save you."

"Why?" Victoria asked from him. "Even after everything, you'd still choose me?"

"Because…I have faith in us. I have faith that in the long run we can still be happy and, despite everything, I still love you. I love you like I've never loved anyone before. There's no one else for me except you and the fact that we're still here…together…it shows me that we're endgame. You're it for me, Victoria. You were it for me as soon as I saved you in that alleyway."

Victoria wondered how he could believe any of that. Did he not get that she was still here because of Evelyn? How did he think they could possibly still be happy in the future when she knew what he was? She wasn't going to question him on it. It would only lead to upset and disagreement. She couldn't chance doing that. She forced her lips into a smile and moved her hand to take hold of his from her cheek. She kept his fingers tight inside of her own as he watched her, clearly waiting for her to make the next move. She knew pushing him away wouldn't go down well and so she gave him what he wanted. Moving his hand to her stomach, she let his fingers splay over it. She kept her hand on top of his.

"I don't want anything bad to happen like last time either, but this baby…just promise me that you'll be there, okay? I couldn't do it alone last time and I don't think I could do it alone this time," Victoria said and she saw his face soften even more. He wanted to be wanted. He longed for it and she could still give it to him.

"You're not alone, sweetheart. I'm going nowhere. I promise."

…

Victoria didn't want to go for dinner with Deep, Cassandra and Ashley. She could think of many other things she'd rather be doing. She had taken Evelyn down to the nursery, telling Natalie that she thought it would be best if her daughter was somewhere else during the dinner. She also didn't want her around Deep. Homelander knew that Victoria wasn't entirely thrilled with the idea of having them in the penthouse for dinner, but he'd promised her that it would just be one night.

She had offered to cook, but he had torpedoed that idea instantly. He had told her that she was doing no such thing. He had ordered catering and they had come in, turning the living room upside down to set up a large dining table, ornate flowers decorating the centre of it and other surfaces including her desk that she guessed she wouldn't need considering she wasn't going back to work.

On the way back up from taking Evelyn down to the nursery, Victoria stepped into the penthouse and found four of the team still setting up. She moved into the room and guessed she should change considering she was in jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. She thanked the catering team before saying that she was going to go and change. She headed on up the steps and towards the guest room. She tidied away some of Evelyn's onesies, folding them up and placing them in the drawers. Grabbing a long sleeved fit and flare blue dress, she went to the bathroom and changed.

Tying her hair up, she let it hang in a loose bun at the nape of her neck and shimmied into a pair of tights. She didn't bother with shoes considering she was in her own home. Spraying herself with perfume, she dabbed it on her wrists and figured her makeup would be fine. She left the bedroom, closing the door behind her and going back downstairs. Homelander had just come in, saying thanks to the team and checking that things were still on track.

"Hi," Victoria greeted him and he smiled, pleased with what he was seeing. She'd made quite the effort, dressed in a smart dress and smelling of the expensive designer perfume he had bought her.

"You look lovely," Homelander commented and then raised his hand, producing a bouquet of red roses. "And these are for you."

Victoria kept the smile on her face and took them from him, smelling them softly and closing her eyes as she inhaled. "They're beautiful," she said and then glanced around, "but I think you ordered plenty of flowers for this place."

Looking around, he laughed at the sight of them, agreeing with her. "Guess you're right," he said to her. "But these are just for you."

"Thank you," Victoria said, trying to sound earnest. "I'll go and put them in some water."

She moved off to the kitchen and Homelander followed her. He had been expecting at least a kiss on the cheek for them, but it turned out she wasn't going to give him that. Blinking away his disappointment, he watched her lay the flowers down and grab a vase from under the sink. She filled it up and cut the roses from the paper they were tied in, trimming the stems until they fit the vase.

"Was Evelyn okay when you left her?"

"She was fine," Victoria said to him. "Natalie was already making her laugh when I left. She had this new toy she seemed to find amusing. She is getting to be quite the crawler though. I turned my back for one minute this afternoon and she was already crawling away from me."

"She's going to be trouble."

"Definitely," Victoria agreed. "And I think she might not be far off saying her first word. She's make a lot more noise…it's kind of cute because she gets these little frown lines like she wants to say something."

Homelander chuckled at that. "Want to bet what her first word is?"

"Oh, if it's not mummy then I'll be so upset," Victoria said to him. "Might even tell you that it was mummy just to win."

Homelander laughed, almost feeling like a weight had been lifted off of his shoulders. This was always what he had wanted from her. It was almost perfect and soon it would be completely perfect. He would have his way. He would have someone wipe her memories again. He would have two children with her. He would find Ryan and bring him home. They'd be the family he always wanted.

"I think that's quite devious, sweetheart."

"Whatever means I win," Victoria shrugged, fanning out the roses in the vase and making sure they looked perfect.

"I wonder how long it will be before she uses her powers," he commented.

She shrugged, not wanting to think about that. "She's still young. She's got plenty of time. Maybe let her learn how to walk first before flying."

"I suppose that would be the safest option," he agreed. "Anyway, what else have you been up to today?"

"Well, I've had to make a few calls to let people know the news. Speaking of, when does that episode of American Hero air?"

"Should be next week," he said to her. "But who have you already told?"

"Billy," Victoria said her brother's name. "He deserved to know from me and not in person."

Homelander's lips arched menacingly as he turned his back to her and busied himself with putting away some of the cutlery from the dishwasher. "And how did he take the news?" he asked, knowing full well that he'd be upset. He wondered if it was worth going to see him? They did have a bet after all and the stakes had clearly just been raised higher.

"As well as you can imagine," Victoria said, not telling him that there was a lot of swearing and she heard slamming in the background too. She closed her eyes for a moment and picked the vase up, carrying it to the dining table and setting it down. "He's not happy."

"Good job you don't need his approval," Homelander simply said to her and she let out a soft hum of agreement. "Did you tell anyone else?"

"Well, Annie already knows and she came up this afternoon to see me and Evelyn…Daniella…I just text her. It's not as if we've had any contact since Michelle's funeral."

"Did she reply?"

"Nope," Victoria said with a pop of her lips. He knew that it affected her more than she let him. When he had first started dating Victoria it had always been the three of them. They'd always had her ear. She'd always gone to them with any problem she had. But Michelle was dead and Daniella didn't want to talk to her.

"You know she doesn't deserve you as a friend," Homelander said.

"Yeah, well I don't think I need to worry about that," Victoria promised him and he took a moment to compose himself as he heard her sound so defeated. She didn't need Daniella. She was better than she ever could be. "Anyway, what time are the Deep and Cassandra getting here?"

"In about five minutes," Homelander said. "I know how you feel about him, but just for tonight…try and put that to one side."

"Easier said than done," Victoria grunted.

"I'd never let him anywhere near you, if that's what you're worried about?"

Victoria frowned and finished fiddling with the flowers. She turned to look at him instead, her head tilted to the side. "Why would I be worried about that?"

"Well, after what he did to Starlight and Eddie did to you…I'd understand if you were apprehensive," Homelander said and she almost laughed. Did he not remember drugging her and sleeping with her without her knowing it? Did he not remember how he had forced her to her knees in the dressing room at his birthday telecast before laying her down on the sofa? But he didn't class himself as the same as those men. He was different, even if he was entirely the same.

"I'm not apprehensive," Victoria assured him. "I just don't like him."

"Well, I'll let you into a little secret, darling, neither do I."

Victoria frowned. "Then why are we doing this instead of ordering pizza in?"

Homelander chuckled again. "Because he might have joined the Seven again, but he needs to know his place."

"What does that mean?" Victoria asked.

"You'll see, my love," Homelander said at the same time he heard Ashley's voice call into the penthouse. Holding his hand out to her, he waited for her to take it. She only briefly hesitated, her fingers slipping into his as they walked back to the sitting room and saw the three of them moving into the space.

"Ah, glad you all could make it," Homelander said and he kept hold of Victoria by the hand as he clasped Deep on the shoulder.

"Thanks for inviting us," Ashley was the one who spoke. "This is a celebration after all. The Seven are back."

"I've just got to say that I'm so thrilled to be back on the team," Deep said as a waiter poured them glasses of champagne. "Thanks so much for everything you've done, Homelander."

"Well, it seemed only right to have you back," Homelander said as the tray went round, handing out the champagne. He let go of Victoria's hand for a moment to take a flute but then looked to the waiter. "This one here isn't drinking today," he said, free arm moving around her waist as Victoria leant by his side, forcing herself to smile.

"We should congratulate you, Victoria, it's such wonderful news," Cassandra said, the smile on her face almost too wide and quite unnerving. She almost wondered why she had agreed to marry the Deep. Was it because of his fame? Was that what motivated her? She must have known what kind of man he was. How could she not?

"Yes, it really is," the Deep said and he raised his own flute as a waiter bought Victoria an orange juice. She took it and forced herself to clink glasses with everyone else.

"Well, we're both delighted, aren't we, darling?"

"Thrilled," Victoria said and she felt him kiss her on the forehead.

"Come on, we should sit down. Dinner should be served soon," Homelander said and he pulled out a green plush chair for Victoria. She sat down in it as he pushed it under for her and Cassandra and Deep sat to his other side, Ashley next to Victoria.

Victoria sipped on her orange juice, placing the flute down on the intricately set table before she saw someone walk in, pushing a cart covered in a white tablecloth. She saw Homelander move to his feet again, hands clasped together as Victoria realised what the food was.

"I took the liberty of ordering for all of us, but I'm pretty sure you're going to love my selection, okay?" he said and Victoria frowned, trying not to let her stomach churn. She knew what he was doing after a moment. He was making the Deep see that he might be back in the Seven, but that meant he was Homelander's to humiliate.

"Could I just get some bread?" Deep decided to ask as Homelander tore off a piece of lobster, carrying his plate towards him and setting it down. He clasped Deep on the should as he looked down at the food.

"Come on now," Homelander said and moved to settle down in his chair, letting the waiters serve the rest of them. "You're back in the big leagues, buddy, only the best for you."

Victoria almost pitied Deep as he looked down at the food and the waiters served the rest of them clams, oysters and lobster. Victoria looked down at the food, picking up her knife and fork after settling her napkin into her lap. Homelander noticed her pause as Cassandra exclaimed at how hungry she was. Looking to the food, Victoria found that she had lost her appetite. She didn't like the Deep. She thought he was pathetic. But this seemed almost too cruel considering she knew what his power was.

"You alright, darling?" he asked from her.

"Yeah," Victoria said with a gentle nod, feeling anything but alright at what was going on. "Just that I think the baby is making me nauseous."

Homelander knew she was lying, but he went along with it anyway. He chuckled and nodded, looking to the waiter. "Can I have some bread for my wife?" he asked.

"Mind if I get some of that too?" Deep questioned.

"Hold up there," Homelander chuckled as two bread rolls were set down in front of Victoria. "You can only have bread if you're pregnant and I sure hope you're not!"

There was laughter around the table, Ashley slurping on an oyster and Cassandra chewing on a clam. Victoria looked to the side. Deep had ate nothing on his plate. Homelander took an oyster, eating it in one go and Victoria remembered when he had tried to get her to eat one for the first time. He'd ordered in and she had been so repulsed. He'd tried to persuade her, but she'd ran away. It had ended with him chasing her round the apartment, catching her and then kissing her against the window pane.

"You know who I've been reading up on recently?" Homelander asked from them, wiping his hands on his napkin. Victoria took a drink of orange juice. "Doctor Martin Luther King." She tried not to spit it out as she wondered where this was going. She swallowed it down, Homelander looking around the table slowly at each face. "My relationship with King has deepened as of lately…he was villanised…persecuted…spoke truth to power just like me. We've both been to the mountain top and seen the promised land."

Ashley started eating again as Cassandra did the same. They didn't dare look at Homelander as he lifted a hand up in excitement.

"I've shown people the real me and they love me for it," he said, the smile on his face growing before he chuckled darkly. "I mean they fucking love me," he declared, eyes widening as he shook his head to the side. "If only I knew that sooner," he said. "There's always been so many things that I've wanted to do and now I can. There's no one to stop me," he said and then moved to pick Victoria's hand up, squeezing it. "Us," he clarified. "No one to stop us. We're finally free."

Victoria struggled to force herself to smile at hearing him say that, but she did. She remained mute, not telling him how ridiculous he sounded. Thankfully they were interrupted by the door opening again, a waiter walking in with a tray covered in a silver lid. Homelander stood up, kissing Victoria on the back of the hand before letting her fingers go, depositing them back in her lap.

"And Deep, this is for you, big guy," Homelander said.

The man took away Deep's untouched food and placed the new plate in front of him. "For me?" Deep asked, clearly uncertain.

"It's a chef's speciality," Homelander said. "It is a South Korean delicacy."

Homelander lifted the lid, dropping it off on the trolley at the side. Victoria inhaled a sharp breath at the sight on the plate, stomach instantly churning once more and a burning sensation running down her throat. Her eyes widened as the creature wriggled on the plate.

"Oh my God, it's Timothy," Deep said and Victoria wondered how he even knew this octopus. "He's my friend. I can't eat him, I'm not going to eat him."

"Oh, yes you can, Deep," Homelander said, standing behind him once more, hands holding onto his shoulders and squeezing them. "Timothy is fucking delicious."

Moving to sit back down, Homelander ran his finger along Victoria's shoulder as he passed her by. She turned to look to him, catching his eye as she moved a hand out to his chair, grasping the arm of it. He looked down to her clinging to it before meeting her eye. She shook her head once and he just shrugged, as if to tell her this was happening.

"He's begging for his life," Deep said and Victoria could hear the pain in his voice. "He has kids."

He looked down to his cell as Victoria took Homelander's arm in her hand. "John, please," she said in a soft voice. Homelander's lips arched at hearing her and he shifted his chair closer to hers. Ashley remained mute, looking between the couples who were exchanging looks and words.

"It's fine, darling," Homelander promised his wife, taking her hand and holding it on the arm of his chair.

"I can't," Deep continued whispering, eyes moving to Cassandra like she had any power here. But she didn't look bothered at all. In fact, she looked more annoyed that he wasn't doing what he was supposed to do. Victoria chewed on the inside of her cheeks, Homelander running his thumb over her knuckles almost like he was trying to soothe her.

"Hey, Deep," Homelander said and the distressed man turned to him.

"Yeah?" Deep asked.

"Eat fucking Timothy."

The words hung in the air, menacing and dark. Victoria's grip on her husband's hand increased and she felt her heart begin to race as she looked to the octopus. She wasn't a vegetarian. Christ, she enjoyed a hamburger as much as anyone, but what was happening just felt dark and like a power play. Victoria saw the Deep gulp, his throat bobbing. Ashley caught her eye for a second and she knew the Vought executive would say nothing. She was as scared as they all were.

Using the chopsticks, the Deep picked Timothy up and brought him closer to his mouth. Cassandra kept her hands clasped by her cheek, almost a slim smirk on her face. Homelander remained still, his eyes studying the Deep and his face looking almost smug. It was the look that terrified Victoria when he reserved it for her.

"John," she tried again as the Deep pressed Timothy's head towards his lips, mouth reluctantly parting.

Looking to his wife, Homelander remained stoic, jaw twitching and chin strongly sticking out, silently telling her that this was happening no matter what. Placing her free hand to her mouth as the Deep wrapped his lips around Timothy's head, Victoria knew she was going to be sick.

"He's praying. He's praying," the Deep said.

"Mm," was all Homelander offered as the Deep continued pushing Timothy into his mouth.

Victoria heard him gag, black ink beginning to drip down his chin. She shook her head and jumped from her seat, running away from the table and up the steps towards Homelander's bedroom as it was the closest one to get to. She stormed in and headed to the bathroom, dropping to her knees and vomiting in the toilet. She emptied the contents of her stomach, coughing as she finished and spitting into the bowl before flushing. She stayed on the floor, letting her legs curl beneath her body and closing the toilet lid.

Running a hand over her forehead, she took a moment before she stood up and guessed her sickness was a mixture of being repulsed and the baby inside of her. Running the tap to the sink, she washed her hands and flicked off the remaining water into the basin. Looking into the mirror, she saw Homelander stood in the doorway behind her. He leant against it, arms folded over his chest.

"You okay?" he questioned.

"Not entirely," she confessed.

"I told them downstairs that it was the pregnancy," Homelander informed her. "I guess morning sickness can strike in the afternoon. It's not as if this is a normal pregnancy."

"Did you have to make him do that?" Victoria wondered from him, ignoring his comments. "I despise him as much as you do, but that felt…it felt like some kind of power play."

"Why would you think that?"

"Because you practically force fed him an octopus. Isn't that like cannibalism for the Deep?"

Homelander chuckled at her analogy. "Sweetheart, I did it because the Deep needs to know there is a hierarchy around here. He came back, but it was at a price. He sees that. Besides, after what he did to Starlight I thought that you'd be willing to make him suffer?"

Victoria remained mute at that point. Did he think that was on par? He had no idea. Victoria didn't rise to him, though. She knew they could fight over this and she guessed that was the last thing he wanted them to do. And so she kept silent. She shrugged her shoulders and splashed some cold water on her face.

"It was still disgusting," she said to him.

"You're not wrong there," he admitted to her. "Listen, I'll go get rid of our guests. I'll tell them you're not feeling well or something. You clean up…and I'll bring Evelyn back up."

"Alright," she agreed weakly with him and he moved towards her. She watched him approach in the mirror, his hands going to her shoulders and massaging them. She tried to relax, not wanting to annoy him. He pulled her so that her back was flush with his front. Dropping his chin to sit on top of her head, he moved his hands, an arm going around her waist as his other arm went around her chest.

"You were perfect out there today," he said in a soft whisper to her. She met his gaze in the mirror. "And before then…in the kitchen…we had fun, right? We were good."

Victoria smiled as his fingers roamed over her stomach slowly and softly. "It was nice not to fight for a change," she agreed with him on that point.

"And maybe when we bring Evelyn back…we can spend some time with her…just us three."

"I'd like that," Victoria lied and Homelander kissed the side of her head, hearing her heart hammering in her chest and putting it down to being so close to him.

"I'll let you do what you have to do," he said and squeezed her once more before leaving her alone in the bathroom. She watched his retreating figure before grabbing the sink and bowing her, sickness rising up inside of her once more.

…

"Hey."

Victoria had called her brother two days later, hoping it might have given him enough time to calm down. She doubted it, but it was worth a shot anyway. She held the phone to her ear as she spoon fed Evelyn in her highchair. She watched as her daughter got more of the food around her mouth than actually in it. The TV in the kitchen was playing the Cameron Coleman Hour. Homelander was on the show, but Victoria had muted the television, subtitles on. She caught glimpses of what he was saying, but she knew that she'd just get annoyed if she actually watched it all.

"Hi," Billy said, tone flat and Victoria folded one leg over the other. She was perched on the bar stool at the breakfast bar.

"You alright?"

"Yeah, doing fine," he responded and Victoria took a deep breath as she watched her daughter get mushed banana everywhere. She was slowly weaning her off of milk and onto other foods. It seemed to be going well enough.

"Where are you?"

"The less you know and all that," Billy replied. "Listen, Vic, I don't have time to talk. I've got things I need to be doing."

"Alright," Victoria said and she wondered if he had any idea of the tears brimming in her eyes. He might not know that, but surely he could hear the defeat in her voice. She closed her eyes and blinked them back as Billy inhaled a sharp breath and knew that he had to give her something else.

"Victoria, don't cry."

"How do you know I'm crying?"

"I can hear it in your voice."

"I'm just cutting some onions."

"At ten in the morning?"

"Making soup."

"Seems plausible," he responded and earned a short laugh from her. His tone softened as he continued speaking. "I don't want you to cry, alright? I want you to know that I can't talk because I'm dealing with things as quickly as I can…but you…I'm here for you, alright?"

"You don't hate me?"

"How could I hate you?"

"Because I'm pregnant, again, with his child."

"He was drugging you without your knowledge and sexually assaulting you. The only person I hate is him for doing this to you," he replied and Victoria sniffed once more, almost feeling relieved at hearing him. "I love you, alright? I'm going to help you because you're my sister. You're my family and no matter what you do, I will never hate you."

"Even if I drank that thirty-year-old bottle of scotch you have?"

"You'd be pushing things. I've saved that for years for a special occasion."

"You stole it from dad's drink cabinet."

"Finders keepers."

Victoria smiled despite everything. She continued to watch Evelyn, juggling the phone between her ear and shoulder as she scraped the bottom of the bowl with the plastic spoon. Feeding her the final bit of mushed banana, she spoke to her brother, feeling slightly better about everything.

"You're being safe, aren't you?" she checked with him.

"Always," he assured her. "I'm fine, trust me. It's not me you need to worry about."

"I'm alright, Billy, I promise," she said to him and he grunted, not entirely certain if he believed her but willing for him not to push it. "I'll come and see you soon, okay?"

"Just stay in touch."

"I can do that," she promised him. "Speak soon, yeah?"

"As soon as possible," he said. "Take care, Vicky."

"You too, Billy," she said and he hung up first.

She dropped her phone onto the worktop and smiled down to Evelyn, cooing at her and tidying her up. Tugging her bib from her neck, Victoria left it on the table of the highchair before wiping Evelyn's mouth and then picking her up and out of her seat. She carried her through to the living room and spent the morning just playing with her, reading and watching her crawl. It was gone eleven when Ashley came up, not even bothering to ask for access.

"I need your help," Ashley said and Victoria frowned, watching as the executive stood before her in her green suit, black heels on her feet. Victoria almost envied her. She had the successful career. She had what Victoria thought she would have. She still might one day, but it just seemed like it was now a long time away.

"My help?" Victoria asked her.

"Victoria Neuman is holding a conference tonight…about Homelander," Ashley said.

Victoria frowned at her and stood up from the floor, leaving Evelyn on her matt and crawling around. She kept an eye on her out of the corner of her gaze, mainly focused on Ashley. "What do you mean she's holding a conference about him?"

"I don't know what it's about, but it's not good," Ashley said to her. "I haven't told him anything yet because we both know what will happen. I need you by his side ready to rebut whatever she comes after him for."

"We don't know what that will be," Victoria reminded Ashley and she chewed down on her bottom lip for a moment. She knew something about Victoria Neuman that could be useful. She didn't want to tell him, but she knew she should tell someone. She figured maybe Billy was dealing with her himself.

"Whatever it is, we both know it will be good for him to have his wife by his side," Ashley said and Victoria arched her brow as Evelyn began to crawl away. Victoria stopped her, bending down and picking her up. She wriggled around in her arms frantically. "But with you standing by him things will look better."

"And you want me to break the news?"

"I mean, I can break it…but I thought you might want to be there…" Ashley blabbered and Victoria knew she was apprehensive about approaching him. She got it. She understood entirely.

"Where is he?"

"Just finishing off a meeting with the Seven."

"Let me see if Annie can look after Evelyn for a few minutes and I'll meet you there."

Ashley almost looked relieved. Moving into the kitchen, Victoria grabbed her phone and called her friend. Annie said it was no problem and ten minutes later she was waiting for the elevator down to the meeting room. As she stepped into it from Annie's floor, she saw Supersonic. He was stood there in his supe suit, his eyes widening as he saw her once the doors had opened.

"Hey," he greeted.

"Hey," she said and she stepped in as he stepped out.

He turned his head over his shoulder as the doors began to close. She was still staring at him. Shaking his head, he knew there was no way he could let her go without saying something. He grabbed the doors and stopped them from shutting, holding them with his hand. Victoria moved back towards the gap, shaking her head at him.

"Alex, I need to go."

"I don't like not talking to you," he whispered to her.

"I'm not so keen on it either but it's how it has to be," she said to him. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. The meeting went alright. I caught the Deep and A-Train arguing in the corridor though…A-Train…he despises Homelander. He had a massive rant in the lift. Wondered if maybe he might be interested in joining us."

Victoria shook her head firmly. "You didn't tell him anything, did you?" she asked him.

His brow furrowed. "I mean, I mentioned that I understood why he was annoyed and told him to meet me later to talk about things more."

"No," Victoria said firmly and she motioned for him to get into the elevator. She hit the button to close the doors before pressing the emergency stop. No one was going to disturb them. "Listen to me, Alex, A-Train…he's done things that have made Annie's life a misery. He's held things over her before…information…he might want to do the right thing, but he always goes back to the Seven, which means always going back to Homelander."

"He seemed pretty pissed off to me."

"Alex, everyone has been pissed off with Homelander at some stage," she said in a deadpan voice to him. "It doesn't mean they won't rat you out to him. He's already suspicious as it is. Don't give him reason to be anymore suspicious. Trust me on this…just stay away from him and tell him nothing."

"Alright," Alex said, giving into her and she nodded her head, sighing in relief.

"You're surprisingly easy to persuade," she said.

He chuckled. "Always been a sucker for those runaway brides," he said to her and she rolled her eyes but her lips remained turned upwards. He moved the back of his hand over her cheek, brushing her hair from her face and behind her ear. "How are you holding up?"

"Hanging in there," she said, taking his hand into her fingers, holding onto it and enjoying the warmth for those few brief moments. "I'll be fine, honest. I need to go though."

"Alright," he said to her and hit the button for the doors to open to the elevator once more. As they parted, he pressed his lips to the back of her hand and stepped out, dropping her fingers reluctantly. "I'm going to see Annie. I take it Evelyn is with her?"

"She's babysitting for a while. I've got something I have to talk to Homelander about."

"Be careful," he urged her.

"Always am," she replied and he chuckled, watching as the doors closed and she went down the floors once more. She came to the meeting room and found Ashley stood outside, holding her phone and frantically looking down at it, typing away.

"Is he in there?" Victoria questioned.

"Yeah," Ashley said with a nod.

She walked into the meeting room. Homelander was staring out of the window, hands behind his back and cape swaying gently as he shifted from one foot to the other. Victoria tugged at the white and red striped jumper she wore over a pair of jeans. Moving into the room, she brushed her hair behind her ear.

"Hey," she called out to him.

"Hey," he said, turning his head over his shoulder, looking concerned. "Is Evie alright?"

"Evie's fine," she said to him. "Ashley found me and she said there's something you should know about. I told her that I'd tell you because there's something…there might be something else you should know too."

"What is it?" Homelander asked, giving his wife his full attention.

Ashley loitered over Victoria's shoulder, still clinging onto her cell.

"Victoria Neuman is apparently holding a press conference tonight…and it's about you," Victoria said to him and his eyes widened in shock at hearing that. "Ashley doesn't know what it's about, but we're guessing that it can't be good. My best bet would be it's about your birthday telecast and what happened."

Homelander remained silent, digesting the information. Looking to Ashley, he felt his jaw clench and teeth grind together. He was annoyed. "You don't know what it's about?" he asked from her.

"No, sir," she said.

"Why not?"

"I…I haven't had time…"

"Isn't it your job to find out?" Homelander sniped at her. He was angry. "Is your idiot brain being fucked by stupid?"

"I…" she stumbled.

"John, come on," Victoria pleaded with him.

"It wasn't a rhetorical question," he said, lips arching in a smarmy smile.

"No, my idiot brain is not being fucked by stupid," Ashley said, trying to sound more confident than she felt.

"Then do your fucking job and find out what the hell is going on Ashley," he snarled and Ashley stumbled from the conference room. Crossing her arms over her chest, Victoria's hip jutted out and she cocked her head.

"You didn't need to be so rude."

"And she doesn't need to be so inept all of the time," he retorted. "Victoria Neuman is coming after me? Really? Who does she think she is? She has no authority to think that she can…what? Sanction me? Silence me?"

"John, we don't know what it is."

"If the Bureau are investigating me then we both know it's not to praise me," Homelander snapped, hands going through his hair as he began pacing nervously and Victoria let her eyes follow him. "How can Edgar let this happen? We're the Seven. No one touches us. He's trying to keep me quiet. I know he is. But how? How can he let her do this?"

"I might have an idea on that," Victoria confessed to him and she knew that if she did this then she could keep him on side. She could earn his trust and cover her own back. She knew that if he found out she knew then he'd be pissed she kept it from him. She felt the weight of his stare on her as she moved towards the window and sat down on the sill of it, crouching down.

"What do you know?"

"Only what Billy told me," Victoria said. "Victoria Neuman…apparently she's Edgar's adopted daughter."

Homelander looked bemused by that. His brows pinched together on his forehead. His lips pursed. He remained silent and Victoria tried to weigh up if he was annoyed with her for not telling him sooner.

"And she's the one who was involved in that incident in Congress," she said. "Edgar and her…they work together…apparently, anyway."

Homelander's face remained almost stoic. Victoria hated it when she couldn't tell precisely what he was thinking. She adjusted herself on the ledge where she was sat, her arms folding over her lap as she looked up to him, hoping she looked innocent enough. He moved to sit down next to her, tucking his cape to the side and letting his thigh brush against hers.

"When did you find this out?"

"A few days ago," she said. She figured it was almost a week ago, but he didn't need to know the semantics. "I didn't know if it was going to be important information."

"Why would you think that wouldn't be important?"

"Because it's not as if she's going round popping people's heads, is it?" she retorted. "But if you think this is Edgar going after you then it would make sense if he's working with her…asked her for help…"

"That is true," he confessed. She was talking sense on that. "I just don't understand why you kept this from me."

Victoria shrugged awkwardly and looked to her lap, knowing she had to play this right. "It's not as if we've exactly been in a sharing mood recently, John," she said. "And Edgar…fuck…after your birthday telecast…he came to me and told me that he felt he was losing control over you. He wanted me to take Evelyn and leave you. He was going to use us against you."

She blurted it out. She saw what was going to happen. There was no way Homelander was going to go under. He would take Edgar on and he would win. Victoria knew that. She had to pick the side she thought would win and at that moment in time she thought it was Homelander. Would Edgar make a come back? Probably. But by then she hoped Homelander was long gone and she could disappear.

"Excuse me?" Homelander questioned from her, struggling to comprehend what he was hearing.

"I didn't want to tell you because I told him that I wasn't going anywhere," Victoria said, hoping that would get his favour. He kept on staring straight ahead, nose wrinkling and Victoria heard his teeth grinding together. "I didn't want you to lash out at him. He might not be a supe, but we both know he wields power…I mean…he threatened to take Evelyn from me and while I act like I'm not scared of him…I'm scared of what he can do."

"You don't need to be scared of him."

"Easy for you to say," Victoria scoffed and she wondered if she had chosen the right side. She moved her hand to sit against his arm, fingers curling around it softly. "You know that I am trying. I'm trying to make this work and this is me being honest…trying to help you."

Silence engulfed them once more. She stared over his face. He slowly turned to face her, blue eyes roaming her features before he nodded his head. She had told him the truth. It had taken her time, but she had told him when it was important. He let his hand move over her cheek, fingers stroking her hair softly.

"You've done the right thing," Homelander assured her and he moved slowly towards her, forehead brushing hers. "You told me and that's all that matters now, sweetheart…because I know what to do to clean this mess up…thanks to you."

She tried to keep the smile on her face. Had she made a mistake? Would this all backfire on her? She didn't know. She just knew she had to try and be smart.

"What are you going to do?" she wondered.

"You'll see soon enough," he promised her. "You wait here and I'll be back in a few hours."

He kissed her on the forehead before standing up and leaving the room without looking back. Moving to her feet, Victoria ran her fingers through her hair, mussing it up and tossing it behind her shoulders. She moved from the meeting room, wondering just what he was going to do. She took the elevator back to Annie's apartment, walking in and finding her daughter being held by Annie, Alex stood over her and holding a stuffed toy in front of her. Her stomach warmed at the sight.

"What's going on?" Annie asked from her. "Ashley looked like she'd seen a ghost at the end of the meeting."

"I think Homelander is going to go after Edgar," Victoria blurted out, the two supes watching her. "And I am pretty sure we're running out of time."

…

A/N: So we are definitely into season 3 now – as always, I live for your thoughts and ideas so pretty please let me know you're reading!