He should have known that she wasn't going to react well and she lived up to his expectations. She moved around the kitchen, opening the cupboards and trying to force them shut with a slam. Unfortunately for her, they were soft-closing and so didn't have the desired effect she was after. She stomped around the room, making dinner as he remained stood to the side, arms folded over his chest and resting against the fridge. Looking at her, he watched her intently as she moved around and began chopping up vegetables to go in the casserole she was making.
"What did you expect would happen, Victoria?" Homelander questioned from her and she ignored his gaze.
"You just told me that we're getting married in five weeks and I have absolutely no say over it," Victoria said to him. "I didn't expect this to be happening."
He let out a deep sigh. "You're pregnant and soon enough you're going to begin to show. I can already tell," he said to her and she didn't want to know how he could tell. Then again, he was more observant than most people. She focused on chopping the carrots on the board in front of her. Homelander's cheeks puffed out and he looked to the ceiling, eyes rolling to the back of his head. "Did you seriously think that we could stay engaged forever? We're expecting a baby. We need to get married."
"Just because I'm pregnant?" Victoria said to him, still focusing on the carrot that was bearing the brunt of her anger. Scooping the chopped pieces up with the side of her knife and her hand, she dropped them into the pan. "I mean, people are going to work out that I was pregnant when we got married. They're going to know it's a shotgun wedding."
"Polling has consistently shown that the most popular option is still to get married," he said to her. "It makes us look committed and…puts me in a good light with my core demographic, you know, standing by you…doing the right thing."
She rolled her eyes then. "So long as you're popular then," she said in a sarcastic tone and picked up the onion, letting it be the next to deal with her anger. Homelander watched her for a few moments before he heard her hiss. The knife slipped and cut her finger. She dropped it instantly and held her finger up, observing the blood that was pooling there. It wasn't a deep cut and that was something.
"Shit," she mumbled.
Homelander moved to the sink and turned the cold water tap on. The water gushed out and Victoria rested her finger underneath it, letting it numb the pain. He remained stood next to the sink, his front almost brushing Victoria's side as she leant forwards and peered at her finger.
"You think this is what I want? You think I want to marry you knowing that you want to do nothing more than run back down the aisle?" he asked from her. "It's not what I want, but it's what we have to do because we made a promise to each other that we would be a family. We promised each other that we were going to make this work."
"But marriage," Victoria said and she looked to him, the noise of running water still filling up the kitchen. Her gaze met his blue eyes and he shrugged sadly. "You say you don't want Vought controlling your life…but you let them do this…tell us what we need to do."
"It would happen eventually, Vicky," he said to her. "We both know that. They're just speeding it up."
She knew that this was what he craved. It was the thing he never had as a child and now he wanted it. He wanted the classic family unit. He wanted to be a father. He wanted a wife and a child. He had grown up on American stereotypes and this was the one he craved the most. Victoria just remained where she was, staring at her finger. She could run. She knew she could run. But how far would she get? And what would he do if she did?
"I don't want it to be big," Victoria said and looked to him again, turning the tap off.
His brows rose on his forehead before he went to the cabinet in the corner. Opening it up, he grabbed the first aid kit he had been forced to keep there since Victoria moved in. The first time she had cut herself when shaving, he'd had no plasters. He'd rectified that situation instantly because that was who he was for her. He opened the lid and took out a plaster as Victoria dried her finger on a piece of kitchen roll.
"You know it's expected to be big, Vic," he said to her.
"But we discussed this before," she said to him. "You told me that we didn't need to have a big wedding."
"Things have changed," he said to her. "Plans are in motion…we're even going back to Paris for our honeymoon. And then, when we return, we're going to announce your pregnancy. We won't be able to hide it any longer."
"John, please," Victoria said to him, a sense of desperation taking hold of her, "What would they do if we just went to Vegas and got married there? We'd have done what they wanted, but without the cameras and attention. It…I don't know if I can do that. It's different to going to movie premieres or doing interviews…this is just bigger."
He motioned for her to lift her hand up and she did so, letting him wrap the plaster around her finger. He was gentle and steady, ensuring that it was tight on her limb. He blinked a few times before looking to her with an even stare.
"You'd elope to Vegas?"
"You know that I don't do well in crowds and the fact is that we'd have to be there with no one who cares about us…not really…I have three friends who don't trust anything I say about our relationship right now…I doubt Billy would walk me down the aisle," Victoria replied. "And I know you have no family either. It's just going to be a load of sycophant celebrities and Vought supes who will talk about us behind our backs. Do you want that?"
How did he tell her that actually he did want that? He wanted to be centre of attention. He wanted to be the one everyone was looking at. And, if they were talking behind his back, then they would only say nice things because they knew who he was. He wanted to hear people say how lucky he was to have someone like Victoria. He wanted to hear them say how she didn't know how good she had it with Homelander.
"I told Ashley that Michelle and Daniella would be your maids of honour, no matter what," he said, taking her by surprise on that one. "She wanted it to be Maeve and Starlight, but I said no. I said that it was non-negotiable…even though I know Starlight would probably be happy with that and you'd want her there too."
Victoria was quiet then, completely forgetting about dinner. She took a step back from him, finding him almost too intoxicating to be around. She leant against the worktop again, folding her arms in front of her chest.
"You did that?"
"Figured it would be what you wanted."
"At one stage, maybe, but Michelle…I can't ask her to do this. She's hardly herself anymore. She gets tired…and I want her there, I really do, but they both know me too well. They know that something's not right and Annie does too."
"You really don't want this?" he asked from her and she shook her head slowly, watching his reaction intensely. He seemed to smile in disbelief before his hands went to his hips and he nodded thoughtfully. And then he just looked defeated. His face fell and his shoulders slumped. Sighing, he nodded and turned around to go.
"Fine," he said and Victoria wondered if she had expected it to be so easy.
Her own eyes widened and she followed him out to the living room. He slumped onto the sofa and she remained hovering by the doorway. "Fine?" she echoed back to him.
"I don't know what you want, Victoria," he responded. "We'll go somewhere and we'll just marry in secret…it's not what I want but I'm trying to make things work between us. It's give and take, isn't it? Isn't that what you told the interviewer was the key to make a relationship succeed?"
"I told them what they wanted to hear," Victoria said to him.
"Yeah, and if you keep doing that then we can get married without fanfare. I'll swing it by Edgar, don't worry," he said to her and Victoria wondered if this was him just trying to be nice to her. She didn't want it to work. She didn't want to feel as though she owed him anything when he wasn't being an asshole. But everything inside of her was conflicted. It was too much and far too difficult for her to keep up with.
"Thank you," she said.
He nodded once. "But we're not going to Vegas," he said with a wave of his hand. "We'll go to City Hall or something."
"Okay," Victoria agreed with him on that point.
"And there will need to be photographs of it," he said. "You can have so much in private, but people need to know that it's happened…and we're still going to Paris for the honeymoon. Vought's agreed to give us one of their private jets to travel in."
"Fancy," Victoria simply said to him and she stretched her neck back to the kitchen and motioned to the room with a thumb over her shoulder. "I should go and continue dinner before it gets too late."
He just nodded to her and let her go, listening to her chopping again and settling back on the couch. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes, wondering just when things might get a bit simpler in his life.
…
"You can't marry him!"
"Keep your voice down," Victoria hushed Annie as they sat in the park together.
They had gone for a walk and picked up takeaway cups of hot chocolate alongside donuts. Sitting on a park bench hidden from sight, Victoria looked around as people passed them by, but no one seemed to be close enough to hear them or to notice who they were. Looking back to Annie, she gave her a stern look and the younger woman flapped her free hand against her thigh as Victoria sipped on her hot chocolate, feeling the sweetness warm her throat.
"But you can't marry him," Annie said to her.
"And what other choice do I have?" Victoria asked from her, placing her hot chocolate on the arm of the bench and unwrapping her chocolate donut. She took a big bite of it, finding that her appetite had been insatiable recently. Annie copied her movement, but she peeled a piece of her donut off and popped it into her mouth. "Annie, I have to do this. I can't run from him. I can't run from Vought. I made my decision when I went back to him that day and…I should have known that he'd want the marriage to go ahead."
"But marriage is so permanent."
"Not if one of us is dead."
"Don't even say something like that," Annie said, hitting her on her arm lightly and shaking her head. "I won't let him hurt you."
"Who said it would be me?" Victoria replied to her friend and Annie's brows creased together as she wondered exactly what Victoria was talking about. It turned out she didn't need to wonder for too long. Victoria finished taking another bite of her donut. "I know that I can never get away from him, especially not if I have his baby…the only way to escape him is to find a way to kill him."
"And you think that we can do that?"
"Who said anything about we?"
"Well, no offence, but you can hardly do anything," Annie said. "Besides, I don't know if you'd be able to go through with it-"
"-What's that supposed to mean?" Victoria demanded, voice curt once she had finished interrupting Annie. The supe shrugged and placed her donut down next to her hot chocolate, letting it drop back into the wrapper. She wiped her hands on her jean covered thighs.
"I just mean that I've seen the interviews you've been doing…and you're pretty convincing, Victoria, almost scarily so."
"It's called acting."
"Is it? Because if you still have feelings for him-"
"-Not like you think," Annie interrupted her, voice firm on that point. She didn't want Annie to get the wrong end of the stick. But Annie shot her a sceptical look and broke her down. She rolled her eyes and focused on taking another bite. "I just struggle with him. The Homelander I know isn't the same one who you know. And yes, I know it is probably an act…but if it is…then he's very convincing. I think that a part of him does just want a family. He just wants someone to love. Vought damaged him. They made him believe he couldn't have that."
"That doesn't excuse all of the terrible things he's done."
"I know and I am not excusing him. I am just saying that for a year I spent time with a man who did nothing but love me and that man…he's still there," Victoria said. "He's a monster, but he was never a monster to me."
"This is what I meant," Annie said to her with a firm shake of her head. "You can't go against him because you don't have it in you. You still have feelings for him."
"Maybe I do, but they're not clouding my judgment," Victoria said firmly to Annie as she moved a hand to her stomach. "Because I have to think about this baby now. I can't let Homelander get his claws into it and the only way that will ever happen is if he is out the picture."
"And do you have any idea of how to get him out the picture?"
"Billy's looking into it," Victoria said. "In the meantime, I need to keep him onside for his sake and everyone else's sake. If I can keep him somewhat happy then it buys us time."
Annie sighed and picked up her hot chocolate. She let it warm her hands before sipping on it. "I don't know how long you can keep this up for," Annie confessed. "I go to bed at night and the idea that you're alone with him, knowing what he's done…I can hardly sleep…"
"Hey," Victoria said, reaching a hand out to Annie's arm. She gave it a reassuring squeeze. "It's fine, I promise. You don't need to do anything, okay? Just be there. Homelander's subdued. He's not going to do anything crazy so long as things are going well between us."
"I have no idea how you can be so sure of that."
"Because I just know. I don't live in fear, Annie. So long as I'm pregnant…giving him what he wants…it'll be fine. It's when I give birth…that's the part that worries me."
Shaking her head slowly, Annie let out a deep breath. "I have no idea how you can stand to do this."
Because there's no other choice, Victoria thought but remained silent. She just drank her hot chocolate and enjoyed the fresh air.
…
"You know it's madness, right?"
Michelle was sat on the couch outside of the changing room that Victoria was currently occupying, trying on numerous wedding dresses. She might not be having a big wedding, but there had been the insistence that she have a wedding dress. Vought had promised her that they could get her a designer gown, but Victoria had said that she would go on her own. And Michelle had wanted to go with her. She was sat on the couch in the plush fitting room that they had to themselves, champagne on tap and numerous wedding dresses hung up on a rail that had been chosen by a woman who had claimed to know exactly what would suit Victoria.
"What? Having a baby or getting married?"
"Doing both at the same time," Michelle deadpanned and Victoria's lips arched because she knew her friend was right.
Folding one leg over the other, Michelle tugged on the green shirt she was wearing and then picked at a fleck of something that was on her jeans. She'd turned down the free champagne, finding that alcohol didn't entirely agree with her medicine. She looked up as she heard Victoria push the curtain back on the changing room and she was stood there in a form fitting white gown. It clung tightly to her hips and she could hardly walk forwards in it, the material that form fitting. Michelle's lips arched despite everything as Victoria observed her reflection in the mirror. Turning to the side, she moved a hand down her stomach.
"Well, you'd definitely know I was pregnant," she commented.
"It's horrible," Michelle said.
Victoria barked out a solitary laugh. "Don't hold back, Michelle."
"Sorry, but I'm here to be honest, aren't I?" she checked with her and tugged her water bottle from her bag as Victoria nodded and let the dress gape from where she hadn't bothered to button it up at the back. Heading to the sofa, she slumped down next to her friend and her head fell to the back of the suede material.
Looking down to her, Michelle reached up and brushed a strand of her hair from her face. "You sure you're okay?" she checked with her.
"Why wouldn't I be?"
Michelle rolled her eyes. "Don't bullshit me, Vic, I know you too well."
Victoria shrugged. She wasn't exactly going to confess everything to Michelle. She couldn't put her at risk. "I'll be fine. It's just a lot has happened and I'm still processing."
"Is that all it is?" Michelle pushed her and Victoria knew that she was just looking out for her. She only wished that she didn't sometime because she felt horrible lying to her. "Because you don't need to do any of this. It feels like you're rushing into it and I know that's not supportive and I am sorry, but this all feels…too much and too soon."
"I know," Victoria agreed with that.
"I just don't know what happened to the Victoria who wanted to go and make a difference in the world…I know the pregnancy was unplanned…but the marriage…it feels like this isn't you. It feels like you're putting everything you wanted to do on hold when you were so happy."
"And I am," Victoria said to her. "But that's the consequence of getting pregnant, Michelle. I can't go back to Paris. I can't go back to that life."
"And getting married?" Michelle questioned.
"We were engaged anyway and it just feels like the right time. I'll be back at work when it's right, but for now, it's just not the right time."
Michelle could only nod her head as Victoria rested hers on her friends shoulder. Michelle's eyes glazed over as she peered down to Victoria, seeing her protruding stomach and she sniffed once.
"Do you think I'll still be here…when the baby comes?" Michelle questioned from her and Victoria looked up to her. She opened her mouth, wanting to tell her that of course she would be. But the words never came out. How could they? And Michelle saw it. She nodded thoughtfully. "I didn't think so."
"I'm sorry," Victoria whispered.
"Hey, not your fault," Michelle said with a firm shake of her head. "I always just figured I'd be around, you know? I'd get to be the fun godmother who showered yours and Daniella's kids with gifts and taught them bad language."
"I'm not sure it would look good for the kid of Homelander to go around repeating bad language."
"Ironic, isn't it? He's on camera and he's nicey-nicey. I'd never heard him swear until he was in your bedroom," Michelle said and Victoria nudged her in the ribs, causing her to laugh at the memory. They'd taunted Victoria relentlessly the first night he had stayed over. But then she was back to being serious, twirling a strand of Victoria's hair around her finger. "You're sure you two are okay?"
Victoria shrugged. "We've worked through things…I mean, we're still working through things," she clarified for her. "And now, before you ask, that doesn't mean we're rushing into this marriage. We both want it. We love each other and everything that happened with Stormfront happened because…we just weren't in a good place. That's not who he is."
But it was. Victoria could hardly deny that in her own head, but to her friend, she had to defend him. She had to keep him on side.
"Really?"
"Really," Victoria deadpanned as Michelle continued stroking her hair. "And I know that's why Daniella's been acting weird with me and not coming today. She doesn't approve."
Michelle was quiet. She shifted slightly on the sofa and Victoria looked to her noting that guilty expression on her face. Tilting her head, Victoria watched her friend.
"You two have been talking, haven't you?"
"You went missing for a week and your fiancé killed an innocent kid. It was hard not to talk about it," Michelle defended. "And then you come back and tell us you're pregnant and getting married. She just…you know Daniella. She's ride or die for both of us, but you've kind of worried both of us because we know you're keeping something back."
Victoria rolled her eyes. "I'm keeping nothing from either of you," she defended. "Michelle, please, I don't want to fall out with either of you over this. You're my best friends. I just want you to believe me that I'm fine. Everything is fine with us."
Michelle just nodded her head once. "Alright," she said, letting the subject go. "But you know we're always going to be here for you…well…I'll only be here for the next six months, but the point still stands."
"I know," Victoria said to her and squeezed her hand. "And I love you so much for even coming here today when you have so much other stuff going on."
Michelle scoffed. "I have nothing going on," she said to her friend. "I mean, I'm flying back home at the end of the month because mom and dad…well…they want me back home and things might start getting tricky."
"The end of the month?"
"I want to be back with them," Michelle promised her. "I want to be at home. This is hard enough for them…I mean, mom practically wanted to fly out to New York with me, but I told her that I had to come back one final time to do all the things I love with you and Daniella."
"And we'll do whatever you want," Victoria said to her, trying not to cry because she'd promised Michelle there would be no tears. She was so close to breaking that promise. Sniffing loudly, she blinked as Michelle wiped her eyes quickly.
"Well, what I really want is to see you try on more of these ridiculous wedding dresses," Michelle said and Victoria laughed but nodded her head, embracing her friend tightly and letting her have her way.
…
Maeve didn't entirely know what was going on, but there had definitely been some developments. She had seen Starlight look frantic most of the time, almost like she was struggling to come to terms with something. Homelander, on the other hand, looked completely elated all of the time. It wasn't as if he was faking it either. He was back with Victoria, the two of them gracing every magazine cover in the country and getting their names on every talk show.
The last she had heard had been from Starlight who had tried to get her to testify against Vought, but she had refused to do it. It was suicide to go up against Homelander in the shape she was in. She knew that. But now she was training. She was training because all she wanted was a life with Elena and she feared she could never have that if Homelander was in the picture. He deserved to die for everything he'd done. She still had the recording of Flight 37 locked away in her safe, ready to use when she had to.
And she had been going to. That day in the forest, after Stormfront had flown off, she was going to go and find Homelander and get him to leave everyone alone. But she hadn't found him. All she had found was Billy Butcher clinging onto a kid who looked exactly like Homelander did. She had asked him what had happened, but all he'd said to her was that Homelander was gone before walking away.
Then the next thing she knew, Victoria was back living in the penthouse with him, forgiving him for everything that he'd done. It had been three weeks since their interview and Victoria had walked the red carpet with Homelander for the premiere of Vought's film on Translucent. Dawn of the Seven was currently in production and scheduled to be released the following year after being rewritten thanks to Stormfront's involvement.
"Maeve, I haven't seen you in a while," Victoria commented as they stood in the foyer of the cinema, waiting to go into the screening. Looking to her, Maeve drank in her appearance, noting the flowing green dress she wore with long sleeves. She had her hair pinned back to the nape of her neck in a messy bun. Homelander was still on the carpet, giving interviews and apologising for his behaviour, Edgar loitering close behind him.
"Things have been pretty hectic," Maeve confirmed to her with a nod of her head. "But I had thought that you were in Paris?"
"Yeah, it didn't work out," was all Victoria offered to her. "And then there's everything that happened here…with Homelander…I figured it would be best if I came back to the city."
"You don't need to bullshit me," Maeve whispered, happy that Homelander wouldn't be listening over the sound of cameras shuttering and people yelling his name. "I saw you go back to him that day in the forest. You know who he is and what he's done."
Victoria's face faltered, the smile falling from it for a second. She soon plastered it back on, acting once more. "I'll explain, but not tonight," she said to Maeve in a whisper.
"Okay," Maeve said as Homelander made his way inside, waving to the fans who cheered his name. He was still popular, despite everything that he'd done. Victoria doubted that was ever going to change. All he seemed to have to do was say sorry and he was instantly forgiven for his behaviour.
"Darling, I wondered where you'd gotten to," Homelander said and Victoria smiled to him as he glanced to Maeve. "But I can see you've been kept in good company."
"Oh, she's quite the charmer your fiancée," Maeve said, voice sickly sweet.
"Don't I know it," Homelander replied, arm wrapping around Victoria's waist and holding her tightly to his side as she rested her hand on top of his. "We should go inside. I don't want to be late."
"Yeah, of course," Victoria said and smiled to Maeve. "I'll catch up with you later."
"Definitely," Maeve said and Homelander steered Victoria way from her.
They headed on up the steps towards the screen where people had begun to file in. Homelander moved his hand to the small of her back, guiding her forwards and towards the middle seats. She found their spot and took her seat, settling back as Homelander sat down, moving his cape out of the way. His legs spread and he smiled and waved to people as they sat around them. Victoria kept her gaze lowered, shifting uncomfortably as she felt a pain in her stomach.
Homelander noted and looked to her, brow arching. "You alright?" he questioned.
"Fine," she promised with a nod of her head as she spotted Annie walking in with Hughie. She waved to her friend who managed a wave back with a forceful smile. Turning to Homelander once more, Victoria dropped a hand to her stomach. "I think it must be those crisps I ate before we came out…apparently certain foods can make you gassy, never mind nauseous which is how I've been feeling all week."
"I know," Homelander said, recalling how he had heard her be sick in the bathroom most mornings. "And you're sure that's it?"
"I'm sure," she promised him and he nodded once before picking her hand up and holding it in his on her lap. She let him stay there as people began quietening down, anticipating that the film was about to start. Noir came in last to a standing ovation before bowing his head and going to his seat.
Once the movie had started, silence descended on the theatre and Victoria found herself growing even more uncomfortable with her current situation. She shifted around slightly, Homelander noticing her every movement as he ran his thumb over the back of her knuckles. It was about half an hour in when she looked to him and leant closer to his ear.
"I need to use the bathroom," she said.
"You sure you're okay?"
"It's just sickness. Stay here, I'll be back in a minute," she said and he let go of her hand as she moved from the theatre, apologising to people who had to slip out of her way to let her past.
Heading out of the dark room, she followed the signs for the ladies and made her way there quickly. She dashed in through the door, grateful it was empty before finding a toilet bowl. Crouching down, she retched into it, her coughs and splutters echoing around before she felt it. Moving to her feet, she shakily stood up, hands grasping either side of the stall next to her. Her gaze moved down and that was when she noticed it.
"No…no, no, no," she whispered as a sudden cramp took over her stomach and she doubled over. "Fuck…shit…" she cursed out loud as she tried to gasp through the pain. She had no idea what was going on.
She managed to lift her dress up her legs, hauling it to her thighs and seeing that they were covered in blood. Another stabbing pain took hold of her and she groaned out loud, dropping her dress once more and closing the toilet lid before collapsing to sit down on it. She took deep breaths before the pain subsided and she shook her head. This couldn't be happening.
"Victoria, are you in here?"
"Ashley?" Victoria asked, sweat forming on her brow and her hair sticking to her face.
"Yeah, Homelander wanted to come looking for you, but I said I would. People are beginning to think-"
"-Can you get John?" Victoria interrupted before she could continue rambling on.
"John?" she queried.
"Homelander!" Victoria snapped. "I need Homelander, please."
"Is everything alright in there?"
She asked the question at the same time another sharp pain ran through Victoria's stomach and she screamed out in pain. "No, Ashley, nothing is alright in here. I need John!"
"Okay…yeah…" Ashley said and scurried away, the door slamming shut after her.
Victoria began to cry as she remained sat there, feeling as though she couldn't move from the spot she was in. The pain continued to come in waves, the blood stain on her dress getting bigger as she tried to think and form some kind of plan. But she couldn't. She heard the door open again, bouncing against the wall behind it.
"She just asked for you, I've got no idea what's going on…" Ashley's voice was back in the room.
"Victoria? Can you open the door?" Homelander's voice was assertive as he stood outside of the stall and ignored Ashley. Victoria managed to shift forward enough to unlock it, letting him push it open.
She watched his reaction, noting the way his eyes widened and his face turned ashen at the sight of her. She kept on crying, the pain refusing to subside. His eyes dropped down from her face to where her dress was stained and he shook his head. He refused to accept that this was happening.
"We need to get you to the hospital," he said in a firm voice and Victoria shook her head, the idea of moving terrifying her.
"It hurts…I can't…" she blabbered.
Homelander nodded as he heard her grunt in pain again. Turning his head over his shoulder, he met Ashley's gaze and barked orders at her, not wasting any time. He didn't have time to waste because from what he saw, Victoria was losing far too much blood. "Call the medical team and tell them we'll be there in minutes."
"Yes…on it," Ashley said and headed on out the bathroom.
Turning back to Victoria, Homelander knelt down on the floor, looking at her with wide eyes as he moved his hands to take hold of hers. She looked down, gaze focused on the blood stain on her dress. Moving a hand to her chin, he tilted her face up, forehead brushing against hers gently. He forgot every single argument they'd had. She didn't bother to push him away either.
"We need to get you out of here," he said to her, tone slightly gentler but still forceful with her. She shook her head and continued sobbing, her makeup completely ruined and her face pale. He could hear her heartrate and pulse. They were erratic but he suspected they would slow down soon enough.
"I can't," she said in a soft voice. "It hurts."
"I know," he said. He had no idea. "But we need to get you to the hospital. They will help. Whatever is happening, you cannot stay here and you know that."
And she did know that. Her hand clung tightly onto his and she squeezed firmly as another sharp cramp took hold of her and she tilted her head back. She yelled out in pain and Homelander let her calm before he spoke again.
"I've got you," he assured her in a low voice, hand stroking her cheek and brushing her hair behind her shoulder. "Victoria, I've got you…you can do this. You know that you can do this."
And so she just nodded her head once. Homelander took that as his signal to move and he did so quickly. He directed her arm around his shoulders before scooping her up. She settled into his grip, clinging tightly onto him as her other hand held onto her stomach. Homelander moved quickly from the bathroom, carrying her effortlessly and thankful that everyone was still in the movie. He saw Ashley holding open a fire exit and he stepped through it.
"There's no press here. The car's coming now," Ashley said to him.
"We don't have time for a car," Homelander said.
"No. You can't fly," Victoria said to him, shaking her head firmly.
"Victoria, there's no other option. I won't go high and I'll go slower than usual. We can't sit in New York traffic."
And she knew that made sense. And so she just nodded her head.
"The medical team are waiting," Ashley said, calling out to him as he took off up into the sky.
He felt Victoria nestle tighter against his neck, closing her eyes and groaning in pain. She grabbed hold of his shoulders firmer too, pushing her body tighter to his. He landed outside Vought's medical facility in minutes and there was a team on standby. Doctors and nurses were waiting by the entrance, a bed prepared. Victoria had the best nurses and doctors she could ask for. Vought had spared no expense in keeping her safe. But it wasn't her they wanted. It was the baby.
"What's happening?" Doctor Daniels, the lead consultant asked.
"She's bleeding and she keeps seeming to get cramps…they come and go…" Homelander said as he set her down on the bed, stepping back and letting the nurses and doctors take over. They made sure she was laid against the pillows as Daniels moved to the end of the bed, cutting away her dress. She kept writhing in pain, hands squeezing the sheets firmly. Cutting her dress to her hips, he reached for her legs and the nurses helped him, pulling them open.
"Shit," Daniels whispered.
"What is it?" Victoria asked from him, managing to try and sit up slightly. Homelander stood by her head, looking to Daniels who had turned ashen. "What the fuck is going on?" Victoria snapped, the pain growing in intensity once more.
"This baby is coming," Daniels said, but Victoria shook her head.
"It's too early," she said.
"It's premature, but this baby is coming and we need to get you into surgery now," he said.
Homelander felt everything blur around him as Victoria was rushed down the corridors, the doctors and nurses speaking to each other, using words that he didn't understand. He followed them, his eyes watching over Victoria as they got to the room and they injected something into her veins. She asked them what it was, but no one responded to her. She continued screaming in pain as the head midwife told her to push.
"Homelander, a word," Daniels spoke.
He was in the corner, washing his hands and pulling on his scrubs. Moving over to him, Homelander looked behind him and to Victoria as she thrashed around and grabbed hold of the sheets.
"It's premature…but babies are born premature, right?" Homelander checked with him.
"This is a situation we've never faced before, but we will do everything we can…but from what I can see…her blood pressure is dropping and she's lost a lot of blood. If it comes to it then a choice might need to be made and I don't want to put you in this position, but you might be the only one who can make it."
"What is happening?" Victoria asked again, but this time she sounded drowsy. "John…what's happening?" she called out for him and he looked to her, seeing the fear in her eyes. She looked at him and he felt his own eyes begin to water because he knew instantly what decision he would make if he had to.
"Do everything you can," was all that he said to the doctor before heading over to Victoria and standing by her side. She reached out to him, fear taking hold of her as she felt as though she was growing calmer. He perched by the side of her bed, an arm going around her shoulders as she leant against his side and he held onto her hand.
"John…what's happening…please…"
"The baby is early, Vicky. It's coming. You just need to do what they tell you to do, okay?"
"No…it can't be coming early…it's too soon…"
"I know, sweetheart, but it is coming. You just need to be brave, okay? I've got you and I'm not going anywhere," he promised her and he bent down to kiss the top of her head as he held her in his arms. His gaze met Daniels and the two men exchanged a knowing nod. Closing his eyes, Homelander tried to block out Victoria's cries as she grew weaker and held onto him. He let his cheek nestle in the top of her head as he prepared to make the only call he had to if the worst came to the worst.
…
A/N: So that's another chapter - as always, I need your thoughts! What do you want to see happen? What do you think could happen with season 3? Do let me know!