Victoria finished preparing breakfast for the entire family, finding herself distracted. Ashley had asked her to look over some of the contracts for the charity they were working on that helped asylum seekers. Victoria was thinking about who they could lobby considering the government were clamping down on asylum seekers. She wondered if it was worth talking to Victoria Neuman? It seemed likely that she was going to be the one who got into power with Singer. Victoria suspected that she might listen to her, but she wondered if it was going to be her priority.

"Good morning," Homelander's voice entered the kitchen.

Ryan was sat at the kitchen table and Evelyn was in her high chair. Victoria was by the stove, scrambling eggs with the radio humming low in the background. Homelander observed the sight and couldn't help but think about how wholesome it looked. His entire family were in the same room and having breakfast. The smile on his face continued to grow as he strolled into the kitchen and ruffled Ryan's hair.

"Morning, dad," Ryan said back to him and Homelander smiled widely.

"Did you sleep well, buddy?" he asked.

"Yeah," Ryan said. "Plus, we've got the field trip today so I'm looking forward to that."

"That sounds good, champ," Homelander said and clasped his shoulder before looking to his daughter as Evelyn reached out to him. He bent down and moved to grasp her under her arms, picking her up and holding her to him. "And how are you, my sweet little girl?" Homelander asked his daughter. She was growing quicker than he had ever imagined, still remembering her as a tiny little baby who couldn't breathe on her own. But now she was walking and talking, plus Homelander knew she was going to be strong.

"Daddy," Evelyn said, "Mummy making eggs."

"Is she?" Homelander questioned and turned to look to his wife who had been quiet. She turned her head over her shoulder and managed a soft smile over to him which he returned. She had been much more amenable recently and he thought that they were going to be fine. She loved him and he knew she did. She'd told him that she did. And he believed her.

"Daddy take me today?" Evelyn asked and Homelander looked to her as her gap-toothed smile was for him and he couldn't help but be enamoured by her.

"Take you to nursery?" Homelander asked her. "Yeah, daddy can take you to nursery."

"And play?"

"Well, daddy has to go to work," Homelander said, bouncing her slightly in his arms as Victoria started dishing up eggs on top of buttered toast. "But daddy will play with you tonight when I'm home. Now, you'll be a good girl at nursery, won't you?"

"Yes, daddy," she said and Homelander kissed the top of her head.

"Alright, sweetheart, you sit down and let daddy help your mummy serve breakfast," he said and he set her back down in her highchair as Ryan continued play on his games console that they had bought him. "Hey, sport, put that down. We're going to have breakfast."

"Yes, dad," Ryan said and Homelander stepped into the kitchen as Victoria put the pan in the sink and turned the tap on, letting it soak away the sticky remainder of egg. Homelander stood behind his wife as she turned the tap on, a hand going to her hip and drawing her attention to him. She turned her head over her shoulder and smiled at him as he bent down, kissing her chastely.

"Morning, darling," he greeted her.

"Good morning," she responded. "I tried not to wake you this morning."

"You didn't," Homelander promised her.

They were back to sharing a bed, but Homelander had only dared hold her. She'd insisted she wasn't ready to be intimate again and he wasn't going to pressure her into anything. He respected her far too much for that. He'd been patient for a long time and he could keep being patient. He didn't think he'd ever gone as long keeping it in his pants. He was amazed he'd lasted, but then he knew that no one would ever compare to his wife.

"But you were up early," he said to her and she nodded her head, hair bouncing around her shoulders.

"I was thinking about the charity Ashley has me working on and how we can try to influence policy," she said to him and Homelander resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He'd insisted Ashley give her a job to keep her happy, but he didn't want it taking up too much of her time. She still had a role to play in his life and being his wife was time consuming.

"What about?"

"Well, Victoria Neuman is looking likely to be the next VP and she's the only candidate I've heard speak about asylum and show some interest in helping," Victoria said to her husband and she went to pick up two plates to carry to the table. Homelander took the other plate and carried his daughter's food considering she was having a smaller portion. She had started trying to feed herself, but Victoria constantly hovered around her with napkins to clean up any mess she made on her face.

"So what?" Homelander wondered and took his seat at the head of the table, Victoria to the right of him with Evelyn in between them and Ryan to his left.

"So, I was wondering if it might be worth trying to talk to her," Victoria said, but Homelander quickly shook his head.

"I don't think that's a good idea," he said and reached for his glass of orange juice as Ryan tucked into his eggs and Victoria handed Evelyn her spoon.

"Why not?"

"Because we both know who she is and she can't be trusted," Homelander said. Plus, he didn't want Neuman to tell Victoria that it was her who had given Homelander his wife's location.

"With Vought business, no," Victoria agreed with him on that point, remembering her relationship with Stan and how she had turned on him and joined forces with Homelander. "But this wouldn't technically be Vought business. It would be completely separate and I don't think she'd be against that."

"I wouldn't be sure and I would prefer it if you didn't go and talk to her," Homelander said to his wife and she was about to huff loudly, but she thought against it. His voice had turned slightly sterner and she didn't want to push him. She was constantly toeing a delicate line. It felt almost as though she could step over that line at some point. She didn't want to, but she didn't know how to stop herself sometimes.

She'd always been so opinionated and dedicated to her work. She'd found her voice after what Eddie had done to her, but now she knew she had to be careful with Homelander.

"I'll see if there's someone else…perhaps a senator or someone from congress," Victoria relented and a wide smile appeared on Homelander's face.

"Good idea, sweetheart," he said, appeased.

"Ryan, do you have the permission slip your dad signed?" she asked from the young boy and he nodded his head, mouth full of eggs. He finished chewing and swallowed, grabbing his orange juice and holding it in his hand.

"It's in my backpack, but I can't find my history textbook," he said and Homelander almost wondered why his son was bothering with studying. He was destined to be a great supe. He didn't need to study pointless subjects. But he knew that Victoria would disagree with him on that point. She was adamant that the children gain an education and forge their own path.

"It's on the desk," Victoria said. She'd told Ryan that he could do his homework on the desk Homelander had bought her. "Along with you English paper that you were working on last night…and maybe a new Lego kit."

Ryan's face lit up as he looked at Victoria who winked at him.

"You bought me a new kit?" he asked her.

"It's a Star Wars special," she said to him. "I thought that we could maybe have a go at building it together this weekend."

"You're the best, Victoria!" Ryan exclaimed and Victoria chuckled at hearing him. She just wanted Ryan to have a normal upbringing and she was scared that he wasn't going to get that if Homelander had his way. She wanted him to be raised as Becca had intended. She wanted him to be a normal kid.

"You're welcome," Victoria said and she turned to her daughter. "And you, little miss Evie…how are the eggs?"

"Mummy like eggs," Evelyn said and Victoria moved a napkin around her daughter's mouth to clean her up as she kept on feeding herself. She seemed to be getting more on the tray of the highchair than in her mouth, but Victoria knew it was important for her to feed herself.

"Yeah?" Victoria checked with her. "You like eggs? Are they yummy?"

"Yummy in tummy," Evelyn said and Homelander chuckled at that as Victoria beamed at her daughter, an overwhelming feeling of love taking over her for her little baby.

Homelander finished his breakfast at the same time as Ryan. Victoria took a little longer considering she was also supervising Evelyn. Once Ryan had put his cutlery down, he looked over to his father.

"Dad, can I go and finish getting ready for school?"

"Sure, sport," Homelander said. "I'll walk you down when you're done and then drop Evie off at nursery."

"Alright," Ryan said and he stood up, taking off towards the living room and then upstairs to his bedroom.

Homelander turned to his wife, smile fixed on his face and Victoria couldn't tell if it was genuine and she hated that. She used to think he was always genuine when he smiled at her, but she soon realised it could be sinister.

"You bought him more toys?" Homelander asked her.

She shrugged nonchalantly and cut into the crust of her toast. "It was on sale and I figured it would be a nice treat," she said to her husband. "It's a good way for us to bond and I think it reminds him of his mom too."

"Isn't he too old for toys?"

"He's still a boy," Victoria replied. "Plus, I enjoy building them with him. Guess I like being a little kid at heart sometimes. You should join us, it's actually therapeutic."

"Not sure it's my style," Homelander said and Victoria stood up. She was trying to keep things light. She didn't want to get into a disagreement over a Lego set.

"Really?" she asked and went to pick Evelyn up. "Well I did see you putting together a twelve piece puzzle with Evelyn," she said and then looked straight to her daughter. "And daddy likes playing with the shop, doesn't he?"

"Daddy buys things," Evelyn agreed and Homelander moved to his feet, hands on his hips. Granted, he did humour his daughter whenever she wanted to play shopkeeper in the plastic toy shop station they'd bought her for her birthday.

"Because Evie is two, Ryan is not," Homelander retorted.

"No, but he's still a boy, John," Victoria said, trying to keep him on side. "And they don't stay young forever…I just want to preserve some of that innocence and not let them grow up too quickly. You can understand that, right?"

And he did. He'd had his youth stolen from him and a part of him would do anything to get it back. But he knew it was too late for him. He wished that it wasn't, but it was.

"I just don't want you to coddle him," Homelander said.

"Please, as if you're not going to wrap Evie here in cotton wool," Victoria said and she bounced her daughter against her hip and spoke in hushed tones to her husband. "You're always going to want her to be your little girl, but one day she's going to grow up…want to date…bring boys home…"

"She's never doing that," Homelander said, shaking his head firmly.

"And that's because you're protective of her and she's your daughter," Victoria said. "I'm not coddling, Ryan. I just want him to be a boy sometimes. I don't want him to feel that he has to grow up. He's gone through so much…and then training to be a supe…I just want him to be happy. He's a good kid and my step-son."

Homelander relented then. He nodded his head and bent down to kiss his wife for a brief moment before brushing her hair behind her ear and nodding his head once. "Alright," he relented once more. "I'll take the kids to school and I'll see you tonight."

"Let me just go and take Evie to the bathroom," Victoria said. They were in the potty-training stage, but Evelyn didn't always let them know when she wanted to use the bathroom. "And I can walk down with you. I was going to go and see Ashley about potentially working with someone on the legal team."

"Alright, sweetheart," he said and he watched her leave the kitchen.

He stacked the plates and carried them over to the sink. He never did his own dishes, but ever since Victoria had moved in, she insisted on doing everything herself. She claimed that she'd grown up doing things herself and she liked it. He suspected she simply felt uncomfortable having someone come in and do things for her. Homelander wasn't one for chores. He'd never had to do them and he never wanted to do them, but here he was, tidying up for his wife. She was the only human who could get him to do things he never did. She'd always been the exception to his rule.

…

Victoria moved across the foyer of Vought Tower. She tried her best not to care about how people looked at her and what they thought. She knew that not all of the employees here could be happy with how Homelander was running things, but no one dared to say anything. They were all too scared of him and she understood that. But she was trying to make a difference. She was trying to be helpful and do something to pass the time.

She was on her way to the café in the Tower after Ashley had set her up an appointment with one of the legal executives so they could talk strategy for their campaign. Victoria had dressed smartly in a long-sleeved fitted green dress and patent black heels. Her hair was tucked behind her ears and her engagement and wedding rings glimmered on her hand. The locket Homelander had bought her sat against her chest. He liked it when she wore it. It kept him happy and her life seemed to resolve around doing that until her brother potentially found a way out of this mess.

But she was losing hope. The more that time went on, the more hope diminished. She knew Billy's days were numbered and without her brother, she wondered what she would do. She didn't know if there was any killing Homelander. And so she had started to accept that this was her life and it was safer for everyone. She kept Daniella safe. She kept Annie safe. She kept Alex safe. She might not be happy. She might be living a lie. But it was better than anyone else dying.

"Dr Anderton?"

The lawyer she was meeting was a fifty-year-old executive who had joined Vought from some other private practice. She was tall with long, red hair that hung down her shoulders. She had a big, diamond ring on her finger and was dressed in a smart black suit with a crisp white shirt. She looked like she could be a model instead of a lawyer and Victoria suddenly felt inferior in her fitted dress and heels.

It made her wonder why Homelander wanted her. He could have any woman on the planet. He had dated models and actresses before Victoria. Why did it have to be her that he fell in love with? She was nothing special, not really. She was just average. No one looked twice at her before she'd started dating Homelander. She knew one reason why he had fake dated her in the start was because of that. It played well with audiences and made him seem more attainable.

"Please, just call me Victoria," she responded and held her hand out, shaking it.

"Jennifer Morris," she responded. "Ashley told me you'd been looking at the charity Vought is working with on asylum claims."

"Yes," Victoria said. "I have a background of working for organisations focusing on asylum law and working with organisations to try and lobby governments-"

"Honestly, your reputation precedes you," Jennifer assured her and Victoria felt her stomach flip and something inside of her sink. She nervously moved a hand to her hair and brushed at it behind her ear.

"I mean, I suppose being married to the Leader of the Seven means people have heard of me," Victoria said and Jennifer's eyes widened as she shook her head.

"Not just that," she promised her and the two women began walking towards the café with its sleek white tables and low wooden benches. There were numerous employees scattered around and drinking coffees while either working or catching up on their breaks. "I've followed your work for a while…I mean, since you started dating Homelander, but it's impressive. The work you've done for civil society organisations and at the UN. I read the papers you wrote for International Humanitarian Law too…fascinating, really."

"Oh, I mean…I don't know…I just do my job," Victoria said with a shake of her head.

Jennifer scoffed. "Please, if you were a man you'd be boasting of all your achievements," she said and Victoria had a feeling that she was going to like Jennifer. "What you've done is impressive and clearly you worked hard. I saw some of the talks you've done online too. When Ashley said you were interested in this area and working with us, I knew it would be a good idea. You're not doing this just to look good like so many supes in this organisation do…you're actually interested and want to make a difference."

"It's not just that," Victoria said and the line started to go down. "I mean, it is that…I've always wanted to try and make a difference…but in recent months I've started to feel like I've lost a part of myself and I want that back. I want to go back to work and make a difference…feel like the old me."

"You've been through a lot," Jennifer said. "And having a baby isn't easy. I imagine it's even harder when your baby is a supe…and Homelander's…"

"It's not been easy," was all Victoria said. "But I'm looking forward to working on this with you and-"

Victoria didn't get a chance to finish her sentence. Before she could, there were screams that rang around the café. Gunshots were fired and everyone clambered to the floor. Victoria wasn't sure what was happening, but her ears started ringing and she felt an overwhelming sense of fear rise up inside of her as Jennifer grabbed her and dragged her to the floor, forcing her to the ground. Victoria looked around, the faces of people etched with fear and confusion. Some had taken shelter under tables while others were trying to call towards the exit.

Victoria crouched down by the tills and looked out to the door of the café and into the foyer from where the shots had come from. There were more gunshots and more screams and Victoria wondered what was going on.

"Get behind the till," Jennifer urged from Victoria.

She crawled forwards and then behind the counter where the employees had dropped to the ground, broken mugs of coffee staining the white tiled floor. Victoria couldn't see into the foyer, her view obscured by the counter as Jennifer sat next to her.

"Evie," Victoria whispered her daughter's name.

Her daughter was upstairs. Her little girl was upstairs. Ryan was on his trip and out of the building. She had no idea where the supes were. She knew there was a rally taking place that they were going to, but had they left? Were there no other supes in the building? Was it a supe doing this?

"I want Homelander!"

Victoria heard the scream. The entire building was quiet. No one dared to speak. Another shot was fired and there were more screams.

"Where is he?"

Closing her eyes, Victoria wondered just what was going on. It was a man's voice.

"Sir, Homelander is not here. We cannot-"

Whoever was trying to reason with the man was silenced and more screams followed. Victoria placed a hand to her mouth and dared to peer out from behind the counter. She could see in the foyer that there was a body on the floor. One of the security guards was dead. But then she saw it. The man was holding two large guns in his hand. They were secured around his body with a strap and he didn't even wear a mask. He was tall with a beard and wearing a yellow tee. He'd shot more than one security guard. Victoria could see now that the bodies on the ground were not moving.

And then she saw the pregnant woman at reception. Her hands were in the air and she was sobbing, tears streaking her cheeks and her lips moving as though she were speaking a silent prayer. Victoria shook her head slowly and she knew that she was probably going to regret what she was going to do.

She began to stand up.

"What the hell are you doing?" Jennifer demanded.

"Get everyone out of here once I have him upstairs," Victoria said to her and she moved her hands into the air.

Walking forwards, her heels clicked on the tiles, the sound echoing through the room. Jennifer hissed at her to come back, but she didn't. She kept moving forwards until the man had turned his attention to her. His eyes were green and narrowed, hair a dark blonde and slicked back on his head.

"I can get you Homelander," Victoria said to him as she continued to advance towards him slowly.

"You're his wife," the man said.

"Victoria," she said to him. "I can call Homelander. I can get him to come here. Whatever you want…we can work it out…"

"I want him to admit what he is," the man hissed. "I want him to admit that he framed Starlight for her crimes. He deserves to be in jail."

"Okay," Victoria said with a nod of her head. She tried to work out if the man in front of her was mentally stable and how to best deal with the situation. She just knew that she had to get him away from everyone else in the Tower before he hurt anyone else. "I know that a lot of people are upset with what happened with Starlight and I understand that…you can talk to Homelander and he will tell you what happened…but I need to call him…and we can wait for him in our apartment. No one else needs to get hurt. Please? I will come with you and wait with you."

"You think I trust you?"

"No," Victoria said. "I know you have no reason to trust me, but I also have no reason to trust you…you have the power here. You could shoot me right now if you wanted to. All I want is for no one else to get hurt. Use me. I'm his wife. No one else needs to suffer. Please?"

Victoria wondered if she had managed to reason with him. She seemed to have as he stepped forwards and grabbed her arm, pressing his gun into the small of her back. "If you even think of doing something stupid, I will shoot you."

"I won't," she promised him and she led him towards the elevator.

Stepping inside, she pressed the code to the penthouse and led him towards the place she called home now. Stepping through the doors, she moved to the landline phone that had been reinstalled considering she said she needed a phone for work and Homelander was beginning to trust her.

"I can call him now," Victoria said to the man as he looked around the penthouse and drank everything in.

There were toys scattered around on the floor and books on the coffee table that Victoria had been reading. The room was a dark blue with leather couches, a large TV on the wall. The kitchen through an archway was modern with white cabinets and dark worktops along with a wooden floor. One wall was made completely of glass and led onto a balcony. There was a desk against the window and a bookshelf next to it with papers, books and pens draped all over them.

"On speakerphone," the man said and Victoria nodded.

He let her move to the phone on the desk and he followed her. Victoria dialled in Ashley's number, knowing that she would be with him considering Homelander rarely took his phone with him anywhere. Dialling, she put the phone on the desk and pressed the button for speakerphone. It rang three times before Ashley picked up.

"Victoria? What the hell is going on over there?" she demanded from her.

"Hi, Ashely," Victoria said, trying to keep her voice even. "Is Homelander there? I need to talk to him?"

"He's…just a moment…he's been on stage," Ashley said. "I'll try and get him."

She could hear cheering and whooping in the background and she assumed he was on stage. He seemed to have that reaction on an audience. Victoria waited patiently, both hands braced on the desk and head bowed. She took deep breaths and tried not to think of the two guns the man was holding. There was some murmuring from the phone and then his voice came on, crystal clear.

"Vicky? What is it?" he asked and she doubted anyone had told him of the situation at the Tower. Ashley must have heard something was going on, but she didn't know fully what was happening. Victoria didn't entirely know either.

"Can you come home?" Victoria asked, trying not to be hysterical. It would do her no good and she had to try and be as level-headed as possible. "There's someone who wants to talk to you and he…he's in our apartment…and I think he's just looking for some answers."

"Victoria, you're making no sense," Homelander said, voice concerned but also slightly agitated as if she was making this up and being incoherent for a reason.

"John," she spoke, her voice firm. "I wouldn't ask you if it wasn't serious. Please. I need you to come home. I need you."

There was silence for a moment then.

"Are you hurt?" he asked from her, concern now edging through over annoyance.

"No," Victoria replied. "But there's a man here and he just wants to talk. Please, can you just come home?"

"I'll be there in a minute," Homelander said and Victoria hung up the phone and looked to the man.

"He's coming back," Victoria said to him and the man nodded, hands lacing together in front of his body and he seemed to be sweating. Victoria had no idea what was going on, but she knew that she had limited time to get answers. There would be no chance Homelander would talk to this man or let him live. "Can you at least tell me what you're doing here? Why do you think my husband is lying?"

"We all know he is…what he is…it's an abomination…and your daughter…they're dangerous," the man said and Victoria knew he wasn't talking complete sense. She tried to push him some more.

"You're a Starlight supporter?"

"We all are," he said and Victoria wondered just who he was talking about. "We meet online and we talk about what he's going to do to this country. He's going to ruin it. He's going to do it so that we're destroyed…genocide…he's a maniac and only Starlight can stop him, but he's ruining her."

Victoria tried to reason with his words and she nodded thoughtfully, hands shaking in front of her body as she lifted them up nervously to tug at her hair behind her ear. "You think Homelander wants to wipe out humans?" she asked and he nodded his head, eyes flittering around anxiously. "My husband wouldn't do that," Victoria said. "I'm human. I'm not a supe. I'm his wife."

"Because you're weaker than him and he needs a woman weaker than him," the man said firmly and Victoria wanted to snap back, but she knew that would do her no good. "You've heard what he's said. He's a supe. He went on national TV and said how he was better than us. It's only a matter of time before he does something to try and destroy us all. We can't let him do that. But no one was willing to take action. I knew I had to. If I don't, then who will?"

"You don't need to do this," Victoria promised him. "I swear to you that he's not going to do anything you just said. I know him. I regret everything that happened with Starlight, but he's not the man you think he is. Please. Believe me."

"I'm not believing anything you say and if he wants you to live then he'll do exactly as I say."

Victoria felt him grab her arm once more at the same time she heard Homelander land on the balcony. He stood up straight and looked through the glass, eyes gleaming red. But he soon stopped when he saw the gun pressed to his wife's back. Moving towards the door into the apartment, Homelander's gaze met his wife's and he looked her in the eye.

"It's alright," he promised her and she offered him a weak nod. She trusted him when he said that and she didn't know if that was wise. He had a tendency to act out.

"If you even think of lasering me then I'll let my finger slip on this trigger," the man retorted and Homelander nodded his head. He knew that was likely to happen. He needed to get his wife away from this man, whoever he was.

"I believe that," Homelander retorted. "I just want to know what you want and maybe we can talk…my wife doesn't need to be involved in any of this."

"You think I'm stupid? If I let her go then you have me where you want me," he said. "And I want the truth. I want you to admit what you're doing…that you're a liar…and that you set Starlight up. You think we haven't seen you? You're power mad. You're going to kill us all."

Homelander's brow furrowed. "Trust me, that's not an idea I've had," he said, holding his hands up defensively. "Whatever you think you know about me, you're wrong. I'm doing what I have to do to protect people. That's all I care about. What happened with Starlight was sad and horrible. I regret it…but she betrayed the Seven. She went against us."

"She's the only one who can stop you and protect us," the man retorted, his grip on Victoria's arm tightening.

"Listen…what's your name?" Homelander queried.

"Andrew," he replied.

"Andrew," Homelander spoke his name and he moved around the room. Andrew followed his movements, forcing Victoria to turn along with him. Homelander went to sit down on the edge of the sofa, hands laced together. He looked to his wife and hope that he was able to tell her that he had this under control. "I know that you don't like me and that's okay. I don't mind…but I'm not this person who you think I am. I'm a family man. I have a wife and children. You don't need Starlight to protect you from me because I'm not going to hurt you."

"I don't believe you," Andrew said.

Homelander sighed. His eyes widened and he clapped his hands against his thighs and stood up once more. "Alright," he said. "So what is your grand plan? If you intend to shoot my wife then you know I'll laser your head right off your shoulders as soon as you do it."

"John," Victoria hissed at him and he shook his head.

"He's not going to do that," Homelander said confidently. "His heart is racing and he's sweating like a pig."

"I killed the security guards downstairs. Don't push me," Andrew warned him.

"Then tell me what you want," Homelander demanded from him.

"I want you to admit that you were wrong about Starlight. I want you to admit that you're evil and have no regard for human life. Do that now," Andrew said and with his free hand, tugged out his phone. "Once you do that, I'll take your wife to a secure location and leave her there for you…and I'll disappear. There will be stronger supes who can go against you then…but you'll be outed for who you are…a criminal."

"You're not taking my wife anywhere."

"She comes with me or I blow her spine out," the man said and Victoria shuddered.

Homelander's fingers clenched into fists and Victoria inhaled a sharp breath. She knew that Homelander could kill Andrew in a second, but would he risk her? Would he risk Andrew's finger slipping on the trigger? She hoped he wouldn't. She hoped he might just think instead of lash out for once.

"Alright," Homelander finally said. "Live stream it and then let my wife go."

"Only when I'm away from here."

"Non-negotiable," Homelander said with a shake of his head.

"Then I just shoot her now," Andrew threatened.

"John!" Victoria shouted at the same time Homelander yelled.

"No!" the noise was loud in the apartment and he held his hand out. "Fine. I'll do what you want. But I swear that if you hurt her then I will hunt you down and I will kill you in the most painful way I know how to."

He intended on doing that anyway.

"I'll be long gone by that time," he retorted. "Now speak."

Homelander exhaled a sharp breath and he said exactly what the man wanted him to say. Victoria watched as he acted so convincingly and didn't once mention he was being blackmailed. He told people how he'd set Starlight up. He told them how he knew he was better than anyone and didn't intend on stopping until people understood that. He spoke of how supes would always be better than humans. He finished and Andrew beamed down at his phone, turning off the live stream.

"Ninety thousand views by the end," he said. "No doubt it'll be over every news channel in the next hour."

"No doubt," Homelander said.

"And you'll have your wife back by the end of the night," the man assured Homelander. "If you even try and follow us then I'll shoot her. If you love her like you claim to then you'll do as I say…I'm not opposed to killing people to get to the truth. You should know that."

Homelander wanted to snarl. He wanted to rip this man's body apart limb from limb, but he wasn't going to risk Victoria. He just nodded his head, jaw firmly set and anger in his eyes apparent. Looking at his wife, Homelander spoke in a low voice.

"I'll never let anything happen to you," he promised her.

"I know," she replied and he knew that he had no choice but to let this man drag his wife away.

…

Victoria knew that Homelander would follow them. There was no chance he was going to let this man go free. Victoria wondered if Andrew had thought his plan through. Even if he did disappear and get away, Vought would be on airwaves as soon as Victoria returned saying that Homelander had only said those things because his wife had been kidnapped and he was saying what he had to say. People had seen Andrew in Vought Tower killing people. He was never going to get away with what he'd done.

But Victoria didn't tell him that. She just looked at him out of the corner of her eye and tried to think of her daughter. Evelyn was safe at the Tower. She wasn't going to get hurt. Ryan was safe too.

"You know…I wish it didn't have to be that way…"

Victoria's brow furrowed. They'd driven to the outskirts of the city and the sun had begun to set. Victoria looked around as they pulled into a car park. It was empty and seemed to be at some abandoned warehouse in the middle of an estate.

"What way?" Victoria asked and he turned the ignition off.

"Get out of the car," he demanded from her.

"What way?" Victoria repeated as she opened the door and climbed out of the car. Andrew got out too, picking up one of the guns he'd kept in the trunk on the drive over. He aimed it at Victoria and her blood ran cold. She shook her head firmly. "No…Andrew…you don't need to do this…"

"So long as you're alive then you're a risk. You had his baby. You had a naturally born supe…and he loves you…he can't have any more children. Do you know how dangerous that would be?"

"We can't have any more children," Victoria quickly blurted out. "After my miscarriage, we were told we couldn't have children. Please. I have a baby. My baby girl…Evelyn…I'm raising her differently. I'm raising her to understand that she's just like everyone else. She needs me. I'm her mother. Please. Please, Andrew, you don't need to do this. You can just go. Leave me here and go. I'm no threat. I promise you."

She saw Andrew faltering then. It was like he was slowly coming round to her way of thinking. He looked at her as Victoria cried, hoping that she'd convinced him. She wanted to. She wanted him to go. But then she saw it.

The red laser of Homelander's eyes cut the man in two before he could even say anything back to Victoria. But he still pulled the trigger. The bullet flew through the air and Victoria screamed loudly as it hit her shoulder, ripping through her skin and the force sending her to the ground. She gripped onto her arm and Homelander was by her side in an instant, knelt on the floor beside her, hands gripping onto her.

"Vicky…where did it hit?" Homelander was hovering over her.

"Shoulder," she grunted out, her body screaming with pain and Homelander used his x-ray vision on her.

"The bullet is still in your skin," Homelander said to her.

"Why did you do that? I was talking him round," Victoria said and she looked to her husband as he kept his gaze on her arm, seeing the blood pouring out before he looked her in the eye once more. She was crying and her face was scrunched up in pain.

"I heard what he said. I couldn't wait. I…I did what I had to," Homelander defended himself. "I wasn't going to risk you and I knew his aim was off. I just…hearing him…if he didn't listen to you or ignored you…I couldn't wait. I need to get you to the hospital. You're going to be okay," he promised her and picked her up and she let him, struggling to comprehend everything that had just happened.

…

Homelander waited until Victoria was all bandaged up before he went to see her. He'd taken her to the medical wing in Vought Tower. He'd made sure Ryan and Evelyn were safe before Ashley had told him that PR was all over the video. Homelander had spotted his wife's face on the TV screen in the hallway as some employee described how she'd stood up and told the man who had infiltrated Vought Towers that she would go with him and help him get what he wanted so long as he hurt no one else. His wife was being lauded as selfless and brave.

A part of Homelander was annoyed though. She had risked herself. She had stood up and she had put her life at risk and he didn't know why. He would rather all of the employees die than Victoria put herself in danger.

Moving into the private room where she was, he saw that she was sat up in bed. She'd changed into joggers and a short sleeved loose fitting grey tee. She had white socks on her feet. A white bandage was around her shoulder and upper arm, peeking out from her tee. He knew she'd hate it. She hated wearing things that showed her arms and the scars that sat there. But Homelander had never cared about them. He'd spent so many nights in bed with her, kissing each and every one and telling her that she was still perfect to him.

"How're you feeling?" he asked his wife.

"Are Evie and Ryan safe?"

"Safe and sound," Homelander said to her. "But how're you?" he asked her again and she leant her head back against the pillows behind her as Homelander took a seat in the chair by the bed.

"They gave me some strong painkillers which have helped," Victoria said. "And I need to avoid tight fitting clothes for the time being."

"And you're worried about the scars?" he guessed.

"It could be a few weeks before they heal," Victoria said. "And I…I just…"

"I've told you so many times that they don't define you," Homelander said to his wife. "You survived your father. You survived Eddie. You are strong. You are stronger than you think…but you…I almost lost you today, Victoria. Why did you go with him? Why did you stand up and go with him?"

Victoria shifted slightly on the bed and crossed one leg over the other. Homelander leant forwards, hands clasped in between his spread thighs.

"You want the truth?" Victoria asked him.

"Always."

"I didn't do it to be brave or a hero," Victoria said to her husband. "I…I heard him say he wanted you. I heard him shoot a security guard. I stayed down. I stayed hidden and a part of me wanted to stay hidden because I…I was scared…but then I looked up and there was this receptionist stood there. She's pregnant. And I thought of Evie. I thought of our daughter in the nursery on the fifteenth floor and if he found her…and I couldn't let that happen. I knew he might not find her. I knew he might not do anything to a baby…but I wasn't going to risk it. I'd never risk her, John. She's my daughter."

Homelander listened to her and watched as her eyes began to water and he felt his own eyes begin to water too. He moved to his feet and Victoria wondered what he was going to do, but he soon sat down on the bed beside her. His arm went around her shoulders, hand careful not to touch her bandaged shoulder as she leant against his side.

"I can't lose you, Victoria," Homelander whispered down to her.

"But why?" Victoria whispered and Homelander's brows furrowed at that question. It wasn't the response he'd been expecting. He turned his gaze down to her and she peered at him with wide eyes and red tinted cheeks, he lifted his free hand up and brushed his thumb down her cheekbone, frowning and brows knitting together.

"What do you mean?" Homelander wondered from her.

"I…It doesn't matter," she said with a shake of her head.

"Don't pull away from me, Vicky," he whispered, urging her to talk to him.

"I spent the entire drive with Andrew in silence and thinking about why it was me," Victoria confessed to him. "I met Jennifer Morris from legal this morning and she was so glamourous. She was elegant…charming…intelligent…and then I wondered why me? You could've had anyone."

"I didn't want anyone," Homelander said. "I want you. You know why I love you. It's not just your personality, Victoria…it's who you are on the inside…and you…you got under my skin in a way no one has before. I don't know if it can be explained, but it is what it is, sweetheart. I never believed in finding 'the one'. I thought it was a load of shit…but us…I think we're meant to be together. Despite everything that's happened, I know you're the only one for me because you got to me in a way no one else had."

Victoria closed her eyes and leaned her head against his chest, feeling drowsy from her medication all of a sudden. Homelander stroked her hair softly as he continued speaking in a gentle voice to her.

"And I see now that I have to do more to keep you all safe," he said. "Because it's not been enough, has it? No matter how many interviews we do…red carpets we walk…there is corruption everywhere."

"Then what else can we do?" Victoria asked from her husband.

"It's not up to you to do anything, sweetheart," Homelander said to her and she frowned at hearing him before closing her eyes. Exhaustion was taking hold of her strongly. "Starlight…it was her supporter who did this. We need to tackle this corruption head on. It's not enough to be a celebrity, Victoria…not anymore…it's not helping us."

"I don't know what else you can do," Victoria said.

"I do," Homelander retorted. "But I'm not letting you go, Victoria. I'm going to do what I can do to keep our family together…whatever it takes."

Victoria didn't like the sound of that. She didn't know what he was planning, but she suspected it wasn't going to be anything good. Homelander kissed the top of her head.

"Get some sleep, sweetheart," he urged from her. "I'm here now."

Victoria closed her eyes and let sleep take hold of her. Homelander remained by her side, arm wrapped around her and face contorted. He needed to tackle what was going on. It was no longer about wholesome interviews and smiles for cameras. It wasn't enough now. He needed to do more…much more.

….

A/N: So the season 4 trailer came out and gave a hint of where things are going - can't wait to see more! In the meantime, I would love to know your thoughts, please?