Billy wanted to roll his eyes as soon as he saw Starlight in their base with Hughie. He had no idea what she was doing there or what she was playing at thinking that she could hang around Hughie. Did she have any idea how dangerous it was? Did she not entirely understand that she was a member of the Seven and therefore she was their enemy? What would happen if Homelander found out what she was doing? What if she led him straight to them?

Holding his mug of tea in his hands as he stood in the background, he watched as Frenchie pulled out the tracking chip from her neck and M.M. looked away in horror. He wanted to scoff. As if that would actually really do anything. He took a moment to compose himself before clearing his throat while they cleaned up the blood from getting the chip out. Hughie looked to him and held his hands up defensively.

"Look, I know what you're going to say," Hughie began defending himself. "But she's had her tracker taken out and she's got information that we need…that you need."

"Well, I was actually going to say that it's a pleasure to see you, Starlight, you just light up a room," he said, his tone sarcastic and Hughie rolled his eyes, but Annie refused to back down. She folded her arms over her chest and her hip jolted out slightly.

"You know, I actually came here with information on your sister because I want to help her and I thought you might too," Annie sniped at him and Billy dropped the cocky smirk then. He placed his mug down onto the table next to him before letting his arms hang by his side and he rested against the metal beam.

"What about her?"

"I've got her away from him," Annie said and Billy's eyes widened at that. "She managed to get an email to me to tell me that she's in rural France. She's found some job there…looking after a chalet while this family is away."

"How did you do it?" Billy asked, all of the sarcasm leaving his voice. He was actually genuinely intrigued.

"You know about what he did? The unsanctioned mission?"

"Couldn't miss it, not that it seemed to dent his numbers," he scoffed.

"Because Stormfront is helping him on that point, but Victoria was angry with him…she was upset with how he handled everything and they had this massive argument about it. I called her and she told me how he was saying all these things about how she had no idea who he really was…what he'd done for her…how he kept a side of him hidden…and I think it freaked her out. But it freaked her out even more when I told her to get away from her apartment. She needed to go. She had to get away from him."

"And she listened to you?"

"She's scared," Annie simply declared, well aware that M.M. and Frenchie had joined them, lingering behind them as Kimiko sat on the sofa. They all had an investment in what was going on. "Billy, she's scared of him and we need to get to her and tell her the truth, but we both know there's no chance she's going to believe what we say…not without her memories…and I think I know how we can get them back."

"And how would that be then?" Billy questioned. He wasn't used to being the one asking them. He was used to being the one with the answers.

"I broke into Stormfront's inbox and there are dozens of e-mals from Stan Edgar."

"What does Vought's big slapper have to say?"

"About how they are close to a breakthrough at Sage Grove Center. It's a psychiatric hospital in Pensylvania."

"What kind of breakthrough?" Hughie wondered.

"From what I could see, it seems like a place where they send supes…and if that's what it is then there might be a supe there with the ability to get her memories back. I know it's a long shot, but it's worth a try before I go out and find her and tell her the truth…because what we're going to do is going to wreck her life."

"She deserves the truth," Billy said. "And it's better knowing than living a lie with him."

"And for once I agree with what you're saying," Annie said to him with a nod of her head before folding her arms over her chest and cocking her head to the side. "But this is Homelander. Look at the lengths he went to before to keep her…if she knows the truth then she can never see him again. He can never find her."

"You think I haven't thought of that?" Billy wondered from her and shook his head slowly. "Don't you worry your pretty little head over this, Starlight. I've got my sister. Now, would you be amendable to join us on this little trip to the looney-bin?"

"You want her to come?" Hughie asked, shocked at that.

"If things go south, who do you think Vought's going to go after? Us or their billion dollar baby turned traitor who just pulled out her own chip?" Billy questioned and slapped Hughie on the back before turning and leaving him alone, knowing that the young couple in love were no doubt rolling their eyes at his comments.

…

"Have you had any luck in finding her yet?"

Homelander was due on set for filming, but his mind had been elsewhere. He had contacted her friends and asked her if they had any idea where she had gotten to, but they had said nothing. They had told him how the last they had heard, she had gone off on some work project, but she wasn't answering the phone to them. He had even contacted her work, but they had said that she wasn't on some project. She wasn't even at work. She'd asked for three weeks off, citing personal reasons. Her phone was still turned off and the last place she had been seen was some train station in rural France.

He had flown over as much as he possibly could, but he had seen no sign of her. He knew that he could be missing her, but he just wanted to know what had gone on. Had she actually left him? Was this her actually leaving him behind? Her phone was still turned off and there was no signal on her laptop either. There was nothing. It was like she had completely disappeared and he was beginning to wonder how she could do that to him.

But Stormfront had been by his side for the past four days. She had been there, consoling him and telling him that everything would be fine.

"I've got Crime Analytics looking into it. Ashley is also claiming that it will be a PR disaster if she is missing for much longer…and Stan Edgar is starting to take it seriously," Homelander said. And they only cared because of their image, not because of Victoria as a person. Not like that mattered to him. He just wanted her found and they were going to use all their resources to do that.

"You know, I know it's upsetting…I've been in love before…hard to imagine, I know, but it's true. The same thing happened to me," Stormfront said.

They were stood in the filming lot outside his trailer, crew members walking by and ignoring them, giving them their privacy. Homelander leant back against the white metal, folding his arms over his chest and looking down to Stormfront with an arched brow. "It did?"

"He couldn't handle it…who I was…" Stormfront said, realising that she had to say whatever she needed to in order to get him on side. It was a necessity because she knew that the two of them could be invincible together, but that would never happen so long as Victoria remained in the picture. "He just couldn't get over the fact that I was a supe and it was my duty to protect the country…that I had been created better than him and I wanted to do what I had to do to keep people safe. He was so much like your Victoria, an idealist who had no real understanding of the world."

"She's…I know she's an idealist," Homelander settled on saying. "And it can be exhausting explaining myself to her and keeping things from her. And now she just runs away when things get tough. I don't get it. I don't get why she would do that to me when all I have done is protect her and care for her."

"Because, and I know you don't want to hear this, she is a human. She doesn't know the weight we carry on our shoulders or understand how you're the best of all of us," Stormfront said to him, hand going to his forearm and he looked down to it, seeing her gloved fingers on his blue costume. He felt her touch almost burn through his clothes and it was nice to have comfort. It was nice to have someone who understood him.

"I wish she understood like you do," Homelander settled on saying.

"I know," she said, her tone one of sadness. "But she never will because you can't change who she is as a person. You know that."

"But I can get her to at least forget about it," Homelander said. "I mean, she's ran away from me. I love her. I give her everything she needs. And this is what she does. She runs without a single word. She leaves me…all because I've upset her…does she never even think about me and how I feel?"

"I don't think so, no," Stormfront responded. "And if she did then she would never be doing this. She would have the decency to talk to you and understand that what has happened was for the best…that she should be grateful to have you. Trust me, any other girl would feel that way."

"I know," he said, modesty clearly not his thing. "I just don't know what more I can do."

"Nothing," Stormfront said. "And maybe this has happened at the right time? Because she's never going to realise who you are and what you can do. You shouldn't need to hide for her…you need to find someone who appreciates you for who you are…who respects the power you have."

"That was her," Homelander whispered. "It still can be."

"You don't even sound like you're convincing yourself," Stormfront said to him and squeezed his arm.

"I want to, that's the issue," Homelander said. "But I have no idea what I can do."

"Well…I'm sure you'll figure it out," Stormfront assured him, standing on her toes and moving to whisper into his ear. "You're the Homelander. You can have whatever you want, but wouldn't it be nice to have someone who wants you just as you are?"

He wanted to ask her what she was doing before she pulled back, throwing a wink in his direction and then turning on her heel and leaving him alone. He watched her as she looked at him from over her shoulder, smiling and he knew that she clearly had a crush on him. He remained where he was, completely unsure on what to do about that. He watched her go and wondered just how uncomplicated it might be if Victoria was just a bit more like Stormfront. His own lips quirked up at that and then he shook his head. When had he ever wanted his life to be uncomplicated?

…

Victoria knew that she couldn't hide forever. She was actually amazed that Homelander hadn't found her yet. She wondered what she was doing. Was she really hiding from her fiancé? Yes. Apparently she was. She had thought about turning her phone on and calling him numerous times, but she hadn't. She had kept it turned off and just watched him on television whenever he was on the news. The incident seemed to have been forgotten about and Victoria knew that Vought must have paid good money to have it buried.

It had been five days and Victoria had to admit that she had fallen lucky. On the train journey, she'd looked at job ads in the newspaper and had called a family who were desperate for someone to look after their chalet while they were away. They owned three other chalets around the lake and needed someone on site to ensure that the holidaymakers were happy and had everything they needed. Victoria was in charge of housekeeping and going to the village to fetch them breakfast, but apart from that, her time was her own.

Thankfully, no one seemed to recognise her either. She'd bike into the local village early in the morning and pay in cash only. She'd see his face on the newspapers and magazines as she shopped, longing to pick up a copy and just stare at him. It was ludicrous and she knew that. She could have the real thing if she wanted. All she had to do was call him. But she didn't want to, not really.

She didn't know if there was any moving past what had happened and how he had reacted. Plus, there was everything that Annie had told her. She didn't know the full story, but she knew her friend. She knew Annie and she trusted her. But did she trust her more than her fiancé?

Victoria headed into the small living room of the chalet after showering. Settling down on the couch, Victoria looked to the TV that she had left on. The news was in French, obviously, Victoria understanding most of what she was hearing. She'd closed the patio doors that led onto the wooden decking that wrapped around the building, the air having turned chilly. A bottle of wine was already open on the coffee table, the sun setting over the lake.

And then she saw them on the TV. The story was of Homelander and Stormfront. The two of them had been recorded together on set. Homelander was leant against the trailer, Stormfront's hand holding his arm. They looked cosy and intimate, whispering to each other. She lifted herself up, whispering into his ear and he looked down to her as she winked at him. Throwing him a smirk over her shoulder, she walked away. Victoria paused the TV on his face as his eyes followed her leaving him alone. He was watching after her and Victoria began to wonder if this was what he did.

He ran to someone else whenever things got too much. The way he was looking at Stormfront made her think that. She'd never wanted to think the worst of him before, but she was finding it difficult not to based on the footage. Then again, he'd cheated on Maeve. Why would he not cheat on Victoria? She was nothing like Maeve. Or did he think they had broken up? She had left him the engagement ring. But she hadn't said it was over. She'd never said that.

Moving to her bag that she had dropped in the hallway, she crouched down and picked her phone out from it. She remained bent down, looking at it and holding down the power button. She watched the screen light up for a moment before shaking her head. No. Annie had told her to wait. She had asked her for a few more days. She turned it back off and dropped it into her bag before going back to the living room and drinking more of her wine.

…

The entire mission at Sage Grove had been a complete disaster. Hughie had been injured by a supe who had broken out of the facility and for once Billy and Annie had put aside their difference to do whatever they had to do to save him. They'd gotten to the main road and found a guy who had been driving along it. He had turned on them, however, not trusting them and thinking that they wanted to steal his car. Annie hadn't meant to hurt him. She hadn't meant to use her powers on him, but it had been an emergency and he would have shot them because he was so sure they wanted his car.

Billy didn't seem remorseful about the entire thing. He'd told her to cauterize Hughie and had driven him towards the hospital.

"Listen," Billy said, seeing Annie in the rear view mirror and noticing how she was holding Hughie to her. "I appreciate what you did back there."

"Oh, thanks, your approval means everything to me," Annie said, unable to stop herself.

"And some sarcasm to stick the landing," Billy retorted, almost looking amused. "But you didn't have a choice."

Annie's moved her bottom lip under her top lip before speaking. "You know what I was thinking, when I was looking at him? Why did you pull a gun, you stupid fuck? That's all. Maybe once I would have cried over him, but now he was just another person in our way."

Their eyes met in the mirror and Annie shook her head.

"No," she said firmly.

"No what?" he questioned.

"No to that quiet look of approval…respect…whatever it is that was because we're nothing alike. There is nothing at all alike about us."

"You know that's probably not entirely true. You do happen to be good friends with someone who is made up of the same DNA as I am," Billy responded, switching lanes and moving for the turnoff, hands gripping the wheel firmly. Annie adjusted Hughie against her side slightly, trying to keep him comfortable.

"It's amazing that the two of you are even related," Annie said to him and he scoffed, nodding his head.

"Ain't that the damn truth," he agreed with her on that point and Annie wondered just what it was that had really gone on between the two of them.

Annie knew about what had happened in her past. She knew about what had happened to Victoria. She knew all of that, but she did wonder where Billy had been. It seemed as though he had been an absent figure in her past, not that Annie had delved deep into it. She knew that Victoria would tell her everything if she wanted to.

"You said before that you knew…if she found the truth out…that she couldn't come back here."

"I do know that," Billy said. "Because if she comes back then he isn't going to leave her alone…and she has friends…not many of them, I know that, but she has two really good friends and she'd do anything for them. She'd stay with him if he threatened them and that's the part that scares me. He wouldn't hurt her. But he'd hurt people she cared about to get what he wanted."

"You think he'd do that? If she really knew the truth and didn't want to be with him?"

"He's crazy enough so yeah, I think he'd do whatever it takes."

"Then what do we do?" Annie queried.

"The only thing that will keep her from him," Billy said, gaze meeting Annie's once more and she had a suspicion that she knew exactly what he was talking about, despite the fact that she would much rather be ignorant to the entire situation. She was terrified, she wasn't going to deny that, because if Homelander found out that she was in on this plan then he would never forgive her.

…

She knew as soon as she had turned her phone on that she'd made a mistake. She had left the chalet, packing her things up and going as soon as possible. She'd called a cab to take her to the train station, informing the family that an emergency had come up and she'd had to get out of there. Going to the next village along, she's paid for a room in a small bed and breakfast situated just outside of a vineyard. As soon as she had left the chalet on her way to the station, she'd seen him fly overhead. The cab driver had exclaimed loudly, Victoria sinking further into her seat and hoping that he wasn't using his x-ray vision.

It had now been almost a week and so far there had been no contact. Frustration was beginning to eat away at her as she wondered where Annie was and what she was getting up to. But she didn't have to wait much longer. Annie had flown out to France, hiring Vought's private jet. But she hadn't come alone. But she knew to get Victoria on side then she had to see her alone first.

"Annie, what the hell is going on?"

Victoria demanded to know as soon as she saw her friend stood outside of her accommodation. The cobbled streets were eerie and quiet first thing in the morning, shutters on the windows pulled closed and chips of paint peeling from them. Embracing Annie tightly, Victoria held her firmly, relieved that she had someone familiar already.

"I know this is a lot to take in, but I just need you to come with me, okay?" Annie asked.

She was wearing her usual disguise of jeans, sneakers and a blue hoody over a white top. Victoria was wearing a long sleeved black top tucked into her green skirt over her thick tights. She tugged on the coat she had brought down with her and adjusted her bag over her body.

"Annie, I've been living hiding away for a week…I mean…I took on a housekeeping job for three days because I had no idea how long I was going to be gone for."

"I thought you'd still be there."

"I would have been but I turned my phone on," Victoria confessed.

Annie flapped her arms by her side wildly. "Why on earth would you do that?" she demanded from her, voice terse and annoyed. Victoria shrugged her own shoulders back, hand moving to her hair and tossing it behind and out of her face.

"I saw him on the news with Stormfront and I just…I thought that there was maybe something going on and I got jealous," Victoria confessed to Annie and the younger woman sighed, shoulders slumping and head tilting back to the sky. "I know it was stupid, but I've had no way of contacting anyone, Annie, and I've started to wonder what the hell is going on…because he is my fiancé…I'm supposed to be marrying him and for some reason I'm avoiding him like the plague and I don't know why yet."

"You're doing it because you know deep down that there's something not right with him and I'm about to tell you everything…but not here…" Annie said, looking round and making sure that no one was following them.

She took hold of Victoria by the hand, dragging her through the streets and telling her that she'd explain everything momentarily as the older woman continued demanding to know where they were going and what was going on. But Annie gave nothing away as they came to the edge of the small village and headed along a dirt path towards a river, the sound of rushing water filling the space. It was only as they came to a clearing did Victoria spot him. He was stood by a tree trunk, dressed in the usual shabby black coat and unlaced boots. She froze, completely ignoring the fact that Hughie was behind him along with some other guy she had never seen before.

"What the fuck is this?" Victoria demanded, pulling her hand from Annie's.

"Victoria, just listen to me," Annie said as she began backing away, shaking her head.

"You're on their side?" she demanded from Annie. "I thought you knew what they'd done? They killed Stillwell…they had me kidnapped."

"That wasn't them," Annie assured her. "I know that it's a lot to take in, but I promise you that I'm telling the truth and we're going to prove it to you. I just need you to calm down and let us explain."

"I can't believe I listened to you," Victoria snapped at her, face turning red with anger as she shook her head. "I let you trick me into thinking that John was some kind of psychopath when it's you whose working with the enemy…turning me against him…he was right about not trusting you."

Turning on her heel, Victoria began to walk away. Annie followed her, but Billy overtook her, rushing forwards and grabbing his sister by the wrist. She turned and raised her free hand in the air, but Billy anticipated her movement. He ducked his head as she swung at him, using the momentum he had to bend over and knock her from her feet, tipping her over his shoulder.

"William!" she yelled his name loudly. "Put me down right now, you asshole!"

She thumped at his back, but he held firm. "Now, Vicky, I know you think I'm some murdering dickhead and you're not entirely wrong on that point, but we helped spring some supe out of a psychiatric prison…smuggled him across the pond to be here…so you're not going anywhere just yet."

"What the hell are you talking about?" she demanded from him, ceasing her smacks against him.

He took a moment to pause for breath before pulling her back from his shoulder and dropping her to the ground. Before she could stand up, Annie was behind her, hands firmly planted on her shoulders and keeping her sat down.

"Now, go on, lad, work your magic," Billy urged from the young man.

Victoria looked to him, noting the blonde hair that hung in clumps down his neck. He was wearing a patterned floral shirt and a pair of jeans, looking like he had been dressed by both Billy and Hughie. He was pale, almost unhealthily so. His cheekbones jutted out and his green eyes were narrowed in her direction. He looked nervous as Victoria kept trying to push Annie from her, but she couldn't move.

The man advanced towards her and knelt down in front of her, Victoria's legs curled beneath her body. Moving his hand towards her, she tried to flinch away from him but failed miserably. He brushed her hair over her shoulder and behind her ear before pressing his finger to her temple.

Annie felt Victoria tense up, hearing a sharp intake of breath and then her eyes closed.

"Is she alright?" Hughie was the one to ask.

"He's…whoever was in here last…did a good job on her," the telepath spoke.

"Richard, she's shaking," Annie declared, trying not to let go of her or lose her grip.

"She's…the things he's done…she knows all of it…he scared her, but not for her own life…he's threatened people she loves," Richard continued talking, his own eyes closed and Victoria groaned loudly, clearly trying to push him out of her mind. She didn't want him in there. She wasn't going to let him give her the memories back without a fight.

"Of course he did," Billy whispered. "Can you give her the memories back?"

"I'm trying," Richard whispered, voice strained. "I need you to let me in, Victoria…I know…I feel it," he continued whispering, almost as though he was talking to her. "I know what he did to you. I know the pain…the hurt…the betrayal…I feel it…let me in…Eddie…" Billy winced on his name, Annie picking up on it. "Homelander…John…I can feel all of it, but they can't hurt you now. I won't let them."

"No!" Victoria yelled loudly, but Richard's pressure on her temple increased and she continued her squirming until he suddenly pulled back, sitting on his haunches and gasping for breath.

Annie kept Victoria upright as she flopped back, losing any ability to hold her entire weight. She gasped for breath loudly, eyes still closed. Wrapping her arms around her, Annie held her and Victoria clung onto her, feeling her friend's chin on her shoulder. And then the tears came.

"I know," was all Annie could whisper to her. "I know…I'm so sorry…I'm sorry we had to do this to you…"

Billy looked to Hughie and the young kid just nodded to him, face contorted with relief that they had pulled it off. Looking down to Richard, Billy clasped him on the shoulder. That was as close to thanks as he could manage for a supe. Glancing to his sister, he couldn't stand watching her cry any longer, Annie comforting her. That monster deserved none of her tears and Billy wasn't going to watch her shed them for him. He left them alone and headed down the river for some time alone, knowing that the next part of the plan was going to be even trickier. The chances of Victoria being willing to fake her own death were slim, but she had to see there was no other way to escape him.

Finding a rock by the river, he sat down on top of it before pulling out the picture he kept of Becca from his wallet. Looking onto it, his eyes glazed over. He'd done what she wanted him to do. He'd given his sister the truth and gotten her away from Homelander. He just wondered if there was a way he could save his wife too.

It was another ten minutes before his sister came to him, cheeks puffy and eyes bloodshot red. She sniffed loudly before sitting down on the rock next to him. Pulling her legs up to her chest, she rested her chin on her kneecaps and looked into the river, eyes glancing at the white foam that hit the sides of the bank. Billy said nothing either. He glanced to her for a moment before following her gaze onto the water.

"I'm sorry," she finally said to him.

His eyes narrowed and he looked back to her, frowning. "Why are you sorry?" he asked from her.

"Because I never believed you," Victoria said in a soft voice, her throat clenching as she struggled to hold her tears back. "I never believed anything you told me and you were trying to protect me. He…I thought that he wasn't that man, Billy. I thought that he was different, but he wasn't."

"He's a monster," Billy said to her and Victoria nodded, gulping and looking to the sky, trying not to cry because she knew that Billy wouldn't entirely appreciate her crying over him. Why would he? After everything Homelander had done, why would he feel anything but contempt?

"What do we do, Billy?" she whispered, voice strained and her eyes flitting around. It was weird. It had felt as though her entire world had collapsed in on itself, but it felt familiar too. It was like she had known this was coming ever since Annie had told her to get away from Homelander.

"We do nothing, Vicky," Billy said in a gruff voice. "You know that you can never be anywhere near him. You need to hide until I've done what needs to be done and he's dead."

"And you think you can kill him?" she asked, not entirely certain if she was comfortable with that idea. "Because he's the most powerful man in the world, Billy. I don't know if he can be killed. He's invincible."

"No cunt is invincible, Vicky, trust me, I'll do what I can," he assured her and Victoria sighed, closing her eyes and feeling a headache take hold of her. Billy looked down to her and for a moment he saw that sixteen-year-old Victoria who had needed him and he had turned away. He wasn't going to do anything like that ever again. Hesitantly, he reached an arm out towards her and placed it over her shoulders.

Peering up at him, Victoria cocked her brow and Billy shrugged. "Just go with it," he said to her and she even managed to smile at that.

She let him keep his arm around her shoulders as she nestled against his side and rested her head on his shoulder. She closed her eyes and spoke again.

"You know, I met Becca," Victoria said to him and he chuckled darkly at that.

"Not how I hoped you two would meet," he said to her.

"I know," she said. "And I know that she was far too good for you from what I saw."

He laughed at that as well. "You're not wrong there," he said and she continued to smile sadly, trying not to cry again. "But she wouldn't come with me. I got to her, but she wouldn't leave…she wanted to stay with Ryan. She didn't want to leave him behind and we both knew that Vought would never let her take him."

"Shit, Billy," Victoria whispered and she felt his hand run up and down her shoulder. She tugged on the sleeves of her top, pulling them over her hands. "I'm sorry."

"Yeah, so am I," he concurred on that point.

"He…Ryan…he's a good kid. He needs Becca. He needs her because she's his mother," Victoria said to Billy. "He can't turn out to be anything like Homelander. He grew up with Vought and look at what happened to him."

Billy frowned, arm stiffening around her. "Are you trying to excuse-"

"-No," Victoria interrupted quickly, shaking her head hastily. "I am not excusing his behaviour in the slightest. I am just saying that it makes sense. He grew up thinking he was something better than everyone else and that's why he gets away with everything he does. Ryan needs Becca to keep him grounded because Homelander won't and neither would Vought."

Billy didn't say anything. He held his tongue, knowing that they would just argue if he told her exactly what he thought of the idea. He let out a deep breath and tilted his head back, looking to the sky and that was when he heard the noise. He'd heard it plenty of times before over New York. Victoria heard it too, her eyes looking over to the sky for any sign of him. She moved to her feet and Billy copied her movements.

"How the fuck did he find us?" Billy hissed as footsteps ran towards them, Hughie and Annie appearing in the clearing along with Richard.

"I paid the pilot to clear the log," Annie said, looking around. "No one knew we were coming…Vought can't track me…the plane was just going on executive business."

"It doesn't matter how he knows, the fact is that he does," Victoria said. "And you all need to go because if he finds you here then he'll kill you."

"We're not leaving," Billy said, voice gruff.

"He's here for me, William," Victoria said to her brother. "It's me who he wants and no one else. I can handle him."

Billy scoffed. "You think you can handle him? He can kill you without a second thought."

"He can, but he won't," Victoria said confidently. "I know his secrets and he didn't kill me last time. He's…he loves me…and for some reason he wants to keep me around. I can do this. I can go to him, but you can't be here."

"She's right," Annie said. "If he finds out we're here and we helped her…what we're doing to try and stop Stormfront…then he's never going to let us go. But Victoria…he's not going to hurt her. We can't run from him."

"No-"

"-Billy, this isn't up for discussion!" Victoria snapped in a low tone, trying to keep her voice down. "Just go. Go and find a way to get me away from him and I'll do what I can to get away from him too. But you need to go."

"Vicky, no," Billy whispered, looking down to his sister. "I can't let you do this."

"You're not letting me, Billy, it's my choice," she said to her brother and moved to embrace him tightly. He wrapped his arms around her, hand cupping the back of her head tenderly as his chin pressed by her forehead. She closed her eyes firmly and knew that time wasn't on her side.

Escaping from Billy's grip, she gave his arm a final squeeze as she nodded to Annie. The blonde nodded back and Victoria turned on her heel to walk away, knowing that Homelander wasn't going to be far away. She gave them enough distance before she shouted, knowing that she had to make her move.

"John!"

The name echoed through the trees and she stood where she was in the forest, looking around. She heard the hooting of birds and the rustling of leaves. Spinning around on the spot, she wondered if he hadn't heard her. About to yell for a second time, Victoria didn't need to bother.

"What are you doing out in the middle of a forest by yourself?"

She turned her head over her shoulder and saw him stood there. She inhaled a sharp breath. It was so odd. A week ago, she'd have been excited to see him. It would have been everything that he wanted. But all she felt at seeing him now was sickness. Her stomach churned and her pulse began to race. She saw him tilt his head and eye her suspiciously.

"How did you find me?" she countered his question with another question.

She figured he might comment on that, but he didn't. He just answered her question.

"Starlight thought she was being sneaky in flying here, but she wasn't," he simply decided on saying. "But I can't seem to find her in the village anywhere."

"She should be here later this morning," Victoria lied to him. She could protect them. She could do that. "I asked her to come and not tell you. I figured you'd pull something like this because it seems you're incapable of giving me the space I asked for."

She began to walk, footsteps heavy. Moving past him, she didn't get far. He took hold of her by the wrist, stopping her from going any further. She flinched at the contact and looked straight ahead. Homelander observed her, seeing the tension in her face. She couldn't meet his eye. She was struggling to look at him and he knew it. He knew that there was something wrong.

"You left with no word but a note, Victoria," Homelander reminded her and she took a gulp. "Why did you think I wouldn't come and find you?"

"Because I said I was fine."

"Is that why your phone has been off?"

"So you've been tracking me?" Victoria demanded, looking up to him. She felt his fingers run down her arm and capture her hand inside of his. She wanted to pull away, but she had to play everything right. She had to do what needed to be done to get him on side because if he knew that she had her memories back then she knew he'd just lock her in the Tower again. "John, I told you that I wanted space. Why can you not just respect that?"

"Because I missed you," he said, flapping his arms and moving his free hand to her chin, turning her gaze to meet his and forcing her to look at him. "You left your engagement ring behind and basically just walked out on me, despite the fact that everything is fine now…I'm doing okay…and what happened won't happen again or make an impact-"

"-Make an impact?" she interrupted him. "John, do you seriously think that it doesn't matter because your poll numbers are boosted again, which, can I add, is a joke because I'm pretty sure that Stormfront helped on that one."

He frowned. How did she know that? He said nothing for a moment, choosing to keep quiet, frowning. Victoria pulled her hand from his grip then as it slackened and she folded her arms over her chest, hip jutting out slightly as she looked at him.

"I've seen the news, John. I've read social media…the whispers…about you two…and those photos…it's like as soon as things get difficult for us then you run off to her. Why? Because she soothes your ego? Because she tells you what makes you happy whereas I just tell you the truth?"

"God, you're being a right pain in my ass, Victoria," Homelander whispered and groaned, a hand going to push through his hair. "Are you seriously accusing me of having an affair right now?"

"I don't know," she said, realising that this was a good excuse to be angry with him to keep him off the scent. "All I know is that I see you with her…her hands on you…you staring at her…and I already know that she hates me. I thought you hated her too, but I'm guessing that's changed recently."

He shrugged. "She's just been nice to me," he said to her. "That doesn't mean anything. She just gets it, Vicky. She gets it when you clearly don't and I have no idea how to set things right. I have no idea how to make things better because you keep running away and we're not over. We're not over because I won't let us be over."

She inhaled a sharp breath and turned to face him. And that was when he smelt it. He smelt it in her hair as she whirled around. Narrowing his eyes, he looked to her and she wondered what was going on in his mind. He bent closer to her and she moved her head back. But she didn't move far enough. He twirled a strand of her hair around his finger and brought it closer to his nose.

"What was William doing here?"

The question hung in the air and Victoria's eyes widened as a forced smile formed itself onto his face and that reaction was scarier than anything Victoria had seen. She shook her head, opening her mouth and just making incoherent sentences.

"I...what…Billy…" she had no idea how to respond and Homelander shrugged.

"Come on, darling," he whispered to her. "Because I can smell him all over you. I'd recognise that cheap aftershave anywhere. It's definitely not your mango shampoo."

"You're being ridiculous," Victoria said with a shake of her head and turned on her heel to walk away, but he grabbed hold of her once more. She tried to push him off, but his hands grabbed hold of her upper arms, shaking her and keeping her pressed up against him. "John, get off of me."

"Stop fucking lying to me," he demanded from her and she looked him in the eye and he knew that she knew. She didn't have to say anything. She didn't need words. She just looked at him and he saw everything there. He saw the hate. He saw the hurt. He saw the pain. It had been the same way she'd looked at him when she had first found out the truth.

His mouth opened and he nodded thoughtfully before closing his eyes. "How did he do it?" he asked from her and she knew there was no point in lying to him. She didn't think she'd be able to keep it up for long anyway.

"A telepath," she said to him simply.

He nodded and a smile of disbelief formed on his face. "Smart of him. I never thought he'd find any of them."

"Well, he did," Victoria said to him. "And I remember everything, John. I remember what you did and I know who you really are…I think I saw it the other night when you came to my apartment…but I see it clearly now. So just let me go, John. Let me go and you can move on with your new fascist girlfriend."

He shook his head. "No," he said, swallowing hard.

Victoria flapped her arms by her side. "Why?" she asked from him. "What do you think is going to happen? You wipe my memory again? Billy finds someone to give them back? Or what? You go off on some unsanctioned mission and we argue again and break up? There's no way we're compatible, John, and you know that. I think I knew it before I even had my memories back."

"Don't say stuff like that because you know it's a lie. When we work then it's fucking great. Look at Christmas…the time in the cabin…you know that we're perfect together."

"Yeah, when you're clearly pretending to be someone else," Victoria responded to him. "Isn't that what you said to me? You show me the side of you that you want me to see. That's not a relationship I want to be in and so we need to call it the end, John. We need to finish this."

He shook his head quickly. He wasn't letting that happen. "No," he said firmly. "I love you, Victoria. I love you and I know that you love me."

"Maybe I do, but that doesn't mean I want to…I want to hate you…and I do. I hate what you've done to me…I hate what you did to Becca…and it hurts so much because I loved you so much. I gave everything to you and loved you so much and maybe if we'd met years ago…when you weren't fucked up by Vought…then things would have been different, but they're not. They're not because you are what you are and you're unapologetic for it."

"Because I have to be," he retorted. "But we aren't over."

"So what? You'll hold me against my will? You want to be with me like that? Because I don't think you do, John."

He said nothing and for the first time in a long time, he looked defeated. Victoria nodded, wondering if this was it. She turned on her heel and began to walk away from her. She headed on through the forest, stepping over a tree trunk until he spoke. His voice wasn't loud. He just needed to say something to keep her attention.

"Daniella…Michelle…" he said their names and Victoria closed her eyes, hands balling into fists. She shook her head. He couldn't be doing this to her again. Shaking her head, Victoria turned her head over her shoulder and saw him looking to her, any trace of remorse having left his face.

"Don't do this to me," Victoria said to him, tears now pooling in her eyes and threatening to spill over. "John, please."

"I don't want to do this to you," he said to her. "But you're leaving me no choice."

"You have any other choice!" she yelled at him and he was taken back by the pain in her voice, the way it cracked. "You don't need to go after them. You just need to let me go. Let me go and leave me alone…please…"

"You know I can't, Victoria," he said, moving towards her and longing for her to see sense. "I can't because I need you. You and me can be so good together. We're popular. We're everything every couple in America wants to be. You…you see me…you're not like any other girl I've ever been with. You're special, Victoria. You're everything to me. I just can't let you go and I'm not letting you go because I love you."

"So you threaten the two people you know I'd do anything for? That's not love."

"Don't you get that I'd do anything to keep you?" he demanded from her, hand moving to her cheek and stroking along it softly, fingers brushing into her hair. "Listen to me, Victoria. I'll find a way to have your memories wiped again, but this time I'll kill your brother so that he can never meddle again…and as for Starlight…she must have been in on this. Why else would she be here?"

"No-"

"-Don't lie to me, darling," he interrupted.

"Just leave her alone…and Billy…leave them both alone, please," Victoria said.

"I will," he assured her, "but you know what I need."

He held his hand out towards her and Victoria looked down to it. He followed her gaze down too and she took a deep breath before realising that she could do something to play the advantage. She just didn't know what that move was for the time being.

And so she took his hand.

…

A/N: Heading towards the end of season two again soon! Would love to know what you think and if there is still interest in taking this through to season 3! Emotions are gonna get more complex and intense, but would great to know if people are still reading!