Billy had told The Boys about everything that was going on with him. He'd told them that he was dying and in response M.M. had kicked him off the team. He was by himself and he working solo. There had only been Hughie who had stuck up for him and he had been outnumbered. The others hadn't defended him. M.M. had made his decision and that was it. His word was final and Billy had left. Alex had chased after him down the steps of the building. Billy didn't know what he was going to do now. He felt slightly adrift.

"Butcher," Alex called after him.

Billy exhaled a sharp breath at hearing him call his name. Looking to Alex, he saw the man fold his arms over his chest. "What can I do for ya? I don't know if you saw back there, but I've been sacked so I'm not exactly going to be a great help," Billy said, his tone bitter. Alex shook his head slowly and stood on the step above Billy.

"It feels like…we've had different goals in recent weeks," Alex commented, knowing that he couldn't really share this with the group. "The priority in that office is Victoria Neuman. We were told not to engage with Homelander…and I know that she should be a priorty. She could fuck things up for not only the country, but the world…and I want to stop her. Of course I do. But my main priority is Victoria and Evelyn. You know that, right?"

"What're you getting at?" Billy wondered, hands stuffing into the pockets of his coat.

"How're we going to do it?" Alex questioned. "Stopping Homelander is important and I know that, but the chances of killing him are slim. We lost our chance when we lost Soldier Boy. So if we can't kill him then we need to get her away from him."

Butcher shook his head. "She won't leave him."

"But if we manage to get her somewhere safe-"

"-Nowhere is safe for her. She won't risk it again. She's tried to escape him twice before now and it hasn't worked for her. She's scared about what he will do if she tries another time. She'd live in fear…and I don't think she can do that."

"It's just…it all feels so fucking hopeless," Alex complained. "Every day I have to see her face on the news and she's standing by his side…his hands on her…and at night I think about what he's doing to her and it makes my stomach curl."

"You think I don't feel the same?" Billy asked. "But the fact is that even if I'm off the team, I'm not going to stop trying to destroy that cunt."

"I thought as much," Alex commented. "That's why I want to know if there's any space for one more to help."

Billy's lips curled upwards. "Think there just might be," he said with a nod, knowing that M.M. would hate it.

…

Victoria had been sat in the cafeteria, earphones in and laptop open in front of her. She'd been asked to write a piece for Vanity Fair and, while Ashley had told her that she could get one of the PR team to do it, Victoria thought that it would be a nice reprieve. They'd come back from the holiday to a media storm still focusing on Homelander's trial. Victoria had tried to ignore most of the press, but it was difficult. She was in the middle of writing a response to the question of 'Where did Homelander take you for your first date?' when she started scrolling on social media. She clicked on the hashtag TruthCon and rolled her eyes in disbelief at what she was seeing. There were comments claiming that the current President was the devil reincarnate. Some even claimed that Stormfront was still alive.

She noticed a familiar face in one post and saw that it was Firecracker, the same woman Victoria had seen on Homelander's list of potential supes for The Seven. She read her social media profile and wanted to laugh out loud in disbelief. She had her own podcast called 'Truthbomb' and was talking at the event about Starlight and how her Starlight House was actually a place for child trafficking.

"Jesus Christ," Victoria muttered at the screen and picked up her mug of herbal tea, taking a sip of it. She went back to the document with the interview questions, but she didn't get a chance to type anything further.

"Do you have a minute?"

Victoria looked up and saw Ashley stood there in a silver blazer and a black top. She tucked her hair behind her ear and Victoria nodded her head. She pulled her earbuds out and hit pause on her playlist, Fleetwood Mac going silent. Victoria watched as Ashley looked around anxiously. The cafeteria wasn't entirely busy and Victoria had picked a booth by the window in the corner. Ashley slipped into the bench across from her and Victoria closed the lid to her laptop.

"Do you know anything about Sister Sage?" Ashley questioned from her.

"Not really," Victoria replied with a shake of her head. "I met her the other week before we went on holiday and Homelander said she was going to be a new member of The Seven."

"A new member?" Ashley checked.

"That's what he told me. Did you not know?" Victoria wondered from her.

"I…I had a feeling we'd need to recruit and she was on the shortlist," Ashley said to her. "But she's just been up in that meeting speaking to him, well, like how you speak to him."

Victoria snorted at hearing that and found it quite amusing.

"He said that he wanted someone smart on the team. He said he was fed up of being surrounded by people he considered to be dumber than him," Victoria said to Ashley and she saw something in the CEO's face. There was a flicker of concern and Victoria wondered if Ashley knew that she had absolutely no power. She was CEO in title only. "I met her once and she managed to work things out about me that no one really knows. Joh…Homelander…he told her that I'm off limits. I think he wants to keep me away from business…but whatever he's got going on…I think it's something that he's going to keep from me. He's not telling me anything, not really."

"Nothing at all?" Ashley questioned.

"I mean, he might," Victoria replied. "But I think the chances are pretty slim. We agreed no more secrets, but usually our agreements are just one-sided."

"It's all going to shit," Ashley muttered and Victoria observed her, seeing her tugging on a strand of her hair tightly. Wrapping both hands around her mug of tea, Victoria picked it up and took a drink.

"What's happened, Ashley?"

"We just had a meeting about Ryan and doing his first save."

"What?" Victoria snapped.

She hadn't been told that this was going to be happening. She'd had breakfast this morning and Homelander had never mentioned it to her. She shook her head at that piece of information and slammed her mug down on the table. She leant forwards and listened intently as Ashley continued talking.

"Sage was there and she suggested that Ryan do the save without Homelander by his side," Ashley said. "She said it would look better because the public will react better to a lone white-boy saviour. Homelander didn't look impressed with that, but he didn't laser her on the spot."

"Because he's listening to her. He thinks she's smart," Victoria said. "And Ryan is doing his first save?"

"They're in the rehearsal studio now," Ashley said. "It's a simple one with a bank robbery. Koy is working with Ryan on it…I think Noir and Deep might be involved too. I need to go up there in a few minutes to check on how it's all going."

"I'm coming with you."

"Will Homelander know you're coming?"

"I don't care," Victoria replied. "The fact is that no one told me Ryan was being forced to do his first save and he's…he's too young…he's just a kid, Ashley."

"He might be, but we both know he's not just a kid. He's Homelander's kid," she said.

"He's also Becca's," Victoria said and Ashley said nothing on that point. Truth was that she wasn't entirely sure how Ryan had been conceived and she wasn't going to ask Homelander. Victoria packed her laptop away in her satchel and stood up, hanging the strap on her shoulder.

The two of them took the elevator up and towards the rehearsal area. Stepping into it, Victoria looked around at the crash mats that were all set up alongside makeshift carboard boxes. Koy was stood off to one side with Ryan, talking to him in hushed tones. Victoria spotted Homelander by the dressing tables that were set up, looking in the mirror at his reflection.

She moved towards him, but didn't get far as Noir stood in front of her. "Holy shit, you're Homelander's wife," he exclaimed and Victoria blinked profusely. Noir had never spoken before, but she knew that they'd had to find someone to replace him. "It's an honour to meet you. I've read so much about you."

"Right," Victoria said, feeling slightly awkward.

"Noir, what did I tell you about talking?" Homelander's voice suddenly rang into his ears.

"Fucking don't," Noir answered.

"Then stop harassing my wife," Homelander said and Noir scurried away as Homelander beamed widely at his wife. He laid a hand against her hip and kissed her quickly. "I didn't expect to see you here, sweetheart," he said to her.

"Why? Because you didn't tell me that this was happening?" she asked and he picked up on her haughty tone. He knew that he had to play this right. Recently, they'd been getting on really well. They'd been perfect together and Homelander didn't want to risk that, but he had to have his son by his side. It was important. He didn't want Ryan to hide who he was.

"Vicky, darling, he's fine, look," Homelander said and he pointed off to the side at where Ryan was with Koy, smiling and joking with the stunt coordinator. "He wants to do this. He's happy to do it. I didn't pressure him into it, I promise you."

"That's not the point, John," Victoria retorted. "The point is that he's only twelve. He's too young."

"He's got me by his side and I'm going to be with him when he does the save."

"I thought you weren't on the call sheet?" Victoria checked and Homelander's brows knitted together on his forehead.

"How do you know that?" he wondered from her.

"I bumped into Ashley who told me about this," Victoria said, suspecting that Homelander wasn't going to do anything to Ashley. "But the point is that you shouldn't even be here. Ryan shouldn't be here and I don't like it. I don't think it's fair, John. I don't think it's fair to be doing this to him."

She could see that he was getting agitated with her. He clearly didn't want to be discussing this, but the fact was that he had to. He knew how stubborn his wife could be when she got an opinion, but he wasn't unused to getting his own way, especially since Edgar left.

"It's happening," his tone suggesting that this was final. "He's doing it and he'll be fine. Stop worrying over him. He needs to accept who he is."

"And who is that?"

"My son. He's special," Homelander said. "The sooner he accepts that then the better it will be for all of us. You know that, Vicky."

"Don't push him away," Victoria urged from him. "He's still a kid."

"It'll be fine," Homelander said and Victoria saw the smile drop from his face and he just frowned at her. She continued glaring at him and shook her head at him before leaving the room. Homelander watched her go, seeing how her hips moved side to side in the tight a-line skirt she wore with thick black tights. He shook his head at the sight of her and exhaled a sharp breath. She had no idea at times and he found that infuriating.

…

Victoria hadn't gone to the save. Firstly, because Homelander hadn't invited her and secondly because she had no idea where it was taking place. She'd spent time with Evelyn instead, the two of them playing in the penthouse together. That still didn't stop Victoria from seeing the news after she'd put Evelyn to bed. The save had happened, but it hadn't been the way that it was supposed to go. Victoria shook her head as she stood up and stared at the television on the wall in front of her. It was playing a recording of Ryan throwing Koy into the air. He hit the wall of a building about twenty feet away and the recording cut off as it was too graphic to show.

"Fuck," Victoria whispered and she shook her head.

The camera then cut to Homelander and Ryan, the two of them together. Homelander had his arm around Ryan and was waving at the crowds, but Ryan looked lost. He looked bereft and Victoria's stomach lurched and her chest ached for him. Moving to grab her phone from the coffee table, she bent down and dialled Homelander's number. It rang and rang, but no one picked up. She then tried Ryan's number and the same happened.

Pacing the living room, Victoria raked her fingers through her hair and shook her head as she felt a pounding begin there. She was getting a headache and she knew that this was going to be a disaster. How would Ryan be feeling? She turned her head over her shoulder as the door to the penthouse opened and she saw Homelander walk in. She flapped her arms by her side and looked to him.

"What the fuck happened?" she demanded from him.

"Is Ryan not here?"

"He hasn't come home yet," Victoria told her husband. "Is he not with you?"

"He flew off as soon as we were finished," Homelander said. "I thought that he'd be back here. He seemed upset."

"He seemed upset?" Victoria echoed the words back to him and she stepped towards her husband and looked him in the eye. She wasn't going to back down, not now. She was annoyed. She was angry. "He killed a man, John."

"It was an accident," Homelander defended, hands held up in defence.

"An accident that could've been avoided if you didn't push him!" Victoria yelled at him and pointed at his chest. Homelander's teeth clenched and his jaw locked. But Victoria wasn't scared of him because she would stand up for Evelyn and Ryan no matter what. She saw her main job in life being to protect them and she was going to do that for as long as she could. "I told you that he wasn't ready! And why were you there? I thought this was his save?"

"I thought that it would be better for him and his numbers."

"His numbers or yours?" Victoria questioned.

"Careful," Homelander warned her in a low voice, but Victoria didn't care. Shaking her head back and forth, she shrugged her shoulders at him.

"And what now? You do know that this could traumatise him, don't you?"

"It was an accident, Victoria. Accidents happen all of the time and you know that," Homelander retorted. "We save people but there are calamities and Ryan needs to accept that. It's a part of the job. I know you don't like it, but it is part of the job."

"Like Flight 37?" Victoria asked him without thinking and she knew that she was pushing things too far. "Or how about that little boy you killed when you went on that unsanctioned mission? Do you remember that?"

Homelander said nothing in response to her and Victoria remained stood up straight. He took a step towards her, coming so close to her that their chests were almost brushing together. Victoria saw his eyes glimmer with annoyance and he bowed his head so that he was talking down to her. His hands went behind his back and Victoria moved hers to her hips. He could sense that her heart was racing, but it wasn't with fear. She was angry with him.

"Watch your mouth," he warned her once more. "We've been getting on so well, Victoria. Do you want to risk it all?"

"Me risk it all?" Victoria asked him and she tilted her head slightly. "I'm looking out for our kids. I'm trying to keep them sheltered and give them a childhood that they remember fondly."

"And you think I don't want that?" Homelander retorted. "I want them to grow up happy, but they are not normal kids, Victoria. You can't wrap them up in cotton wool and you know that. They need to accept who they are and they can do that. They'll do it by my side. They'll never have a childhood like I had…tortured like I was…"

"Maybe not," Victoria agreed with him. "But do you still think that this is good for them? For Ryan? It's not, John. This isn't good for them and I don't want this for them. It'll scar them in other ways."

"I'm his father, Victoria."

"And that means your word is final?" she questioned.

"On this? Yes," he decreed.

"Then I guess we're going to have to disagree," Victoria said and she stepped away from him, breaking eye contact and moving towards the hallway. She slipped her sneakers onto her feet and Homelander watched her, arms folded over his chest.

He exhaled a sharp breath. "Where are you going?"

"To try and find Ryan. Evie is asleep upstairs."

"You don't know where he is. What? You're just going to run around New York aimlessly?"

"I don't know, but I can't just sit here. Why did you let him fly off?"

"Because he's old enough to handle himself."

"Not after he just accidentally killed a man," Victoria said. "You stay here if you like, but I'm going to find him."

Homelander just rolled his eyes at her back and he watched her step into the elevator and disappear. Victoria had to admit that she had no idea where she should go, but she just couldn't sit around and do nothing. Moving out of the Tower, she wondered about all of the places where Ryan might go. Truth be told, he didn't really know many places but the Tower. Victoria walked through the gardens and that was when she spotted him. He was sat on the bench in the corner where he'd sometimes go with her and Evelyn.

He was bent over it, curled into a ball. She could just see the back of his dark hair and the plaid jacket he wore over a white tee. Victoria moved towards him and sat down on the bench. She didn't say anything to him, but she just moved her hand over his back, stroking it gently. Ryan knew it was her without even looking and he moved from where he was hunched over. He looked to her and she could sense he was hesitant. He almost looked like he was scared that he'd disappointed her.

"Come here," Victoria whispered and that was all the encouragement he needed to rest against her side as she wrapped both arms around him, rubbing her hand up and down his shoulder.

"You don't hate me, do you?" she asked and her grip on him increased.

"I could never hate you, Ryan," Victoria said to him and he continued to shake as he sobbed against her and she clung to him, trying to comfort him. "What happened was an accident. I know that and you know that."

"I didn't want it to happen," Ryan continued whispering. "I didn't mean to hurt him, Victoria. I never mean to do that."

"I know, buddy," Victoria said and she kissed the top of his head as he wrapped an arm around her waist. "I've got you, it's alright."

"I can't do that again," Ryan muttered. "I can't…Koy…I'm so sorry."

"I know, honey," Victoria whispered and she felt her own eyes well up with tears for him. She stroked his hair gently and Ryan buried his cheek against her chest. She could feel his tears wet her top, but she didn't care. She just kept stroking his hair gently as he tried to make sense of what had happened. "I've got you, Ryan. I'm here for you, okay."

"Hey, buddy."

The two of them looked up as Homelander approached, hands on his hips. Victoria glared at him and wanted to tell him to go away, but she knew that would go down like a lead balloon.

"Who is looking after Evie?" she demanded from her husband.

"I asked Natalie to keep an eye on her when I saw you down here," Homelander retorted. He moved to sit down on the other side of his son, hand going to his back and stroking it gently. "I wanted to come and see how you were. I know that today didn't go as planned, champ."

Ryan looked up to his dad, but he kept his arm wrapped around Victoria. She held onto him and looked at her husband over the top of Ryan's head, silently longing for him not to be crass and insensitive.

"It's okay," Homelander promised his son. "I promise you that it's okay. In the future you'll have plenty of your own saves."

Victoria shook her head at hearing that. Was he really that blind as to why Ryan was upset? Homelander ignored the daggers his wife was glaring in his direction, choosing instead to focus on his son. "I do think that me being there is good for your numbers," he said and Victoria wanted to scream at him. She wanted to yell at him for being so oblivious. Ryan's face also scrunched up in confusion and he looked at his dad.

"What?" he asked. "No…no…I killed Koy."

Homelander's hand stilled on Ryan's back. "I know that you're upset about killing Koy, but accidents happen all of the time. Humans are fragile and we can't save them all of the time."

"But isn't that our job?" Ryan asked his dad.

"Yeah, but we can't always do it. Koy died doing what he loved."

Victoria was aghast at that.

"It will be better next time," Homelander promised his son.

"No," Ryan said firmly at that, his tears beginning to dry up.

"Yes," Homelander retorted, voice increasingly verging on annoyed.

"No," Ryan snapped back.

"Jesus Christ," Homelander finally snapped and he moved to his feet. Victoria pulled Ryan tighter against her, as if she could protect him just by holding him to her. "How many times do I have to tell you?" Homelander asked, hand moving through the air and eyes closed in annoyance. "They're only human, Ryan. Toys. You can't go round feeling bad about what you are because a few things break."

"Enough," Victoria finally interjected, despising the words that were coming out of his mouth.

"Enough?" Homelander retorted back to her.

"You're upsetting him," Victoria said and silent tears began to fall down Ryan's cheeks then. "He feels remorse over what happened because he killed someone. Would you let him feel this way if it was a supe who he killed and not a human? A life is a life, John. Stop pushing him."

"He is chosen," Homelander said and pointed to his son. "You are destined for so much more. You understand? You're chosen, young man. Sooner or later you've got to accept it."

He stormed off then and Victoria watched him leave, storming back inside through the fire exit he'd left through. Victoria watched him go and she stroked Ryan's hair gently. They remained sat on the bench and Victoria knew that things were going to be tense now. She knew that they'd hit an impasse and, despite her wanting to humour her husband, she wasn't going to do that to detriment of Ryan.

"You're human," Ryan suddenly whispered.

"I know I am," Victoria whispered.

"Then why does he love you? Why does my dad love you when he talks like that?" Ryan questioned from her.

"Honestly?" Victoria whispered to him. "Sometimes I don't know."

"I can't do this again, Vicky," Ryan said. "Don't let him make me…please…I know he's angry with me, but I can't do it."

"I'll talk to him," Victoria promised, but she knew that it probably wasn't going to work. She kissed his forehead gently and burrowed her cheek against the top of his head.

…

Walking back into the penthouse, Victoria knew that she couldn't stay away forever. She left Ryan in his bedroom after all of his tears seemed to dry. She told him to get some sleep and then checked on Evelyn who was sleeping soundly. Moving into the master bedroom, the lamps on either side of the bed were turned on and Homelander was sat up in bed. His chest was bare and the quilt was pooled in his lap. He had his phone in his hand and was checking on some final emails before he went to sleep.

Closing the door behind her, Victoria didn't acknowledge him as she headed to the walk-in wardrobe. Homelander's eyes only lifted slightly to peer after her as she moved into the other space. Rolling his eyes, he tossed the quilt back from his legs and slipped out of bed. Padding barefoot to the wardrobe, he watched as Victoria pushed her sneakers from her feet with the tips of her toes.

"So you're going to give me the silent treatment all night?" he wondered from her, arms folding over his chest.

"You're going to push him away, you know that?" Victoria said to him and she sat down on the bench in the middle of the room, tugging her tights down her legs. "Do you want to do that? Do you want to alienate him?"

"I want him to realise his potential," Homelander said.

"And one day he might do, but not now while he's a kid. Let him be that."

"You'd stop him from reaching his full potential."

"And what is that?" Victoria demanded from him. "What's his full potential, John? What you want it to be? How about you let him choose? How about you give him the one thing you never had as a kid: a choice?"

He thought about what she said for a moment and looked down to the ground. Victoria dared to glance at him and she wondered if maybe he saw her point of view. He inhaled a sharp breath and watched as his toes pressed against the plush brown carpet under his feet. She left her tights on the ground.

"I'm giving him everything I ever wanted him to have," Homelander said. "Why is it not enough?"

"That's your problem, John. You're giving him everything you ever wanted him to have, but have you ever asked him what it is that he wants?" Victoria questioned and Homelander knew that he hadn't. He hadn't asked him what he wanted. She remained seated on the bench and Homelander moved towards her, kneeling down on the ground in front of her and she wondered what he was doing as his arms wrapped around her waist and he laid his head in her lap.

"I want to be good enough for him," Homelander muttered.

"And you are," Victoria said. "But you just need to be his dad, John. He just needs his dad."

"He has me," Homelander replied.

"I know, but I'm not sure he knows it," Victoria responded. "And then when you say stuff like you did out there…how do you think that makes him feel? His mum was a human. I'm a human. You're calling us lesser beings…saying that we're dispensable."

"You know I never meant you. I never mean you."

"It's hard to reconcile those things," Victoria replied. "You need to make things right with him. He's your son and he loves you, but you need to be gentler with him. Please. Please, John."

"I'll try," he relented and Victoria guessed that was as good as she was going to get. His version of trying and her version of trying were very different though. She just suspected that she had to be careful with him at the same time as trying to protect Ryan. She closed her eyes for a second as she felt him reach for the buttons of her shirt and she tried to steel herself for what was coming next.

"John," she whispered his name.

"I don't want to fight with you, Victoria," Homelander said. "I never want to fight with you."

"I don't particularly enjoy fighting with you either," he retorted. "I love you, Victoria. You know that. I just…I need to know I'm enough for you…I need to be enough."

Victoria realised that he was scared of losing people, despite the fact that he was the main reason why he pushed them away with his actions. Victoria just nodded her head and he kissed down her head before prising her legs apart and she laid back on the bench, fingers tangling into his hair and moans echoing through the room.

…

The two men who had been arrested for killing the three men at the protest had been freed. Evidence had been taken from Crime Analytics that cleared them of murdering the Hometeamers. But that meant that there was a leak somewhere in the department and Homelander knew they had to find out where the leak had come from. In the meantime, the new members of The Seven had been announced.

"You have to be kidding me," Victoria said to her husband.

She was stood on the balcony of the penthouse and was looking down onto the square beneath her where the stage was being set for the announcement to be made formal. Victoria had a mug of tea in her fingertips and was enjoying the cool of the early morning. The sun was shining low and it felt so peaceful.

"You've heard then?" Homelander checked, ambling towards her side.

"Firecracker?" Victoria checked with her husband. "What the fuck are you thinking?"

"Sister Sage thinks she'll be a good fit," Homelander told her.

"She's a nutjob. Have you heard what she spouts? I listened to one of her podcast episodes and she was talking about how the Starlight House is a place for trafficked children…we both know that's bullshit."

"Is there any evidence it is?"

"Come on, John," Victoria groaned at hearing her husband.

He chuckled and wrapped his gloved hands around the metal railing of the balcony. "People seem to believe what she's saying. She has a huge following and she'll be good for The Seven. She'll lead the fight against Starlight and that's what we need right now. Once Starlight has been dealt with then her vendetta against Vought dies. Firecracker can take her on…and I can focus on other important things."

"Such as?"

"Such as making the country a safer place for supes," Homelander retorted. "Either way, you don't need to worry about Firecracker…although Sage does tell me that she has a massive crush on me."

Victoria wondered if he was trying to make her jealous. It was hardly going to work, but she knew what response he was expecting. She took another sip of tea, but it was lukewarm. She shook her head and set the mug down on the small table by the chairs on the balcony. Leaning against the railing, she tucked her curls behind her ears.

"John, if I had a nickel for every woman who had fancied you then I'd be a lot richer than I could ever imagine," she said to him.

"I just want you to be know that you have nothing to be worried about. It won't be like Stormfront. I've learned from that and we're in a better place than we ever have been."

"I wasn't worried," Victoria assured him. "I mean, she's pretty, but she's crazy. Even you don't go for that."

"No…I much prefer rational," Homelander said and there was a lighter edge to his tone and Victoria turned her head to the side and glanced up to him, seeing that his lips were turned upwards.

"I am very rational," she retorted.

"I know…you make pros and cons lists for nearly every decision you have to make in life. Don't think I haven't seen the notebook you keep for that," Homelander said and Victoria chuckled as she thought about her notebook where she did exactly that. She shook her head slowly and thought about Annie and what might happen with Firecracker coming after her. She just hoped that Annie was able to handle whatever was coming in her direction.

"I mean, you're more than welcome to go for someone irrational," she said to him. "I'd just pick anyone other than Firecracker. But seriously, John, why her?"

"It'll be a good decision in the long run," he promised his wife. "You don't need to worry about The Seven business. I have it all taken care of."

"You or Sage?" Victoria questioned back.

"She's a good addition and I'm smart enough to listen to her," Homelander replied. "Just like I'm smart enough to listen to you…exactly like I did the other night after what happened with Ryan. He seems distant, but I guess he'll come round in time."

"You just need to give him a bit of space," Victoria assured her husband. The more space he gave Ryan then the less chance he had to suffocate him.

"One day he'll be ready. I know he will be," Homelander said with a nod of his head, but Victoria guessed that he was trying to convince himself more than anyone else. "Either way, our kids will grow up in a better world than we did. It starts now, Vicky…all of it starts now and down there, when we announce the new members. We have press after the broadcast and then we have the first meeting…plus I need to find out who from Crime Analytics gave that tape to Starlight that helped free those men."

"I mean, does The Deep have any clue who it might be?"

Homelander chuckled. "What do you think?"

"Absolutely not," Victoria replied and his laugh intensified.

"I'll find out anyway," Homelander declared. "Anyway, do you think you might be able to come down to the announcement? It'd be good for you to be seen there on the sidelines. It might help boost my numbers."

"Do your numbers need a boost?" Victoria questioned.

"Well, since the trial they've gone up slightly, but they could still be better," Homelander said. "So can I take that as a yes or do I need to find a way to persuade you?" he wondered and his hand moved to the small of her back before skimming over her backside. Victoria stiffened under his touch slightly and she felt his fingers tug up the skirt of her dress.

"John, we're in public," Victoria said and turned her head over her shoulder.

Ryan and Evelyn were still sleeping and they were in the highest penthouse. Victoria still didn't want to risk it though and, truth be told, she'd prefer not to be near him.

"The kids are still sleeping," he replied. "And after the other night…I don't think I'll ever get enough of you."

Victoria let the images flash by in her mind. She remembered his head between her thighs before he kissed up her body and tugged her clothes from her, guiding her onto his lap and controlling her movements with his hands on her hips, watching as she came apart on top of him.

"Well, you're going to have to wait," she told her husband. "This is a nice dress and I'm not going to ruin it."

"I can be careful."

"You've ruined far too many of my underwear sets for me to believe that," Victoria said to him with a firm shake of her head. "You're going to have to wait."

She managed to pull his hand from her thighs and she kept hold of his wrist inside of her fingertips. Standing on her toes, she kissed him quickly and rested her head against his chest. She dared to release his hand and she felt him wrap his arm around her waist. Victoria looked down to the ground as she ran her hands along his forearms.

"Can I take it that you will come down there then?" Homelander checked with her.

"I suppose I can," Victoria agreed for him.

She had no idea what was going to happen down there or when the new members were announced, but she supposed it wasn't going to be good. It never was.

...

A/N: As always, would love to know what you think!