Homelander watched as Victoria remained sat next to him, dressed in a light blue gown after her doctor's examination. She had been silent throughout, refusing to speak or even acknowledge him. He knew that she didn't want another child. He was well aware that this was not ideal for her, but he hoped that another child would bring them closer together. He remembered what it had been like when Evelyn had been born. There had been moments when things had been absolutely perfect. He remembered her pregnancy and how she seemed to cling to him tighter because he really was the only thing she had. Her friends had abandoned her. Her brother was upset with her. Annie had been close and Homelander knew she was going to be a problem. People supported Starlight and he hated that. He hated that some people believed what she said.

"So…after conducting the examinations I would say that there is nothing to prevent you from getting pregnant again," Doctor Jones said. The woman was middle aged with a thin face and dark red hair that hung down to her shoulders. She was wearing a green pantsuit with a white coat over it. Her office was large and luxurious in the middle of Vought Tower. She had a pinched nose and thin lips. She was matter of fact. There had been nothing in her voice that had suggested any semblance of warmth.

"So the chances are we will be able to have another baby?" Homelander checked.

He was sat in the leather chair next to Victoria, hands clasped together in his lap. Victoria had one leg folded over the other, her hair tied back in a ponytail. The short sleeves of the gown didn't cover her arms and she glanced down at the faded skin of her scars. She tried to keep them hidden, her arms folded and her eyes looking around the room.

"Chances are you can," she said to him, looking him in the eye and then glancing to Victoria who had gone through the entire examination with a detachment. "However, you need to know the risks that come with having a child. I read all about what happened during the first pregnancy. The risks are higher than a normal pregnancy and so we will need to do everything possible to minimise those. That will include complete rest…no stressful situations…check-ups every day."

"She can do that," Homelander said and looked to Victoria who kept her eyes set over the doctor's shoulder, face completely emotionless. Homelander's jaw locked slightly and his eyes darkened as he drank in the way she was looking. He just wanted some semblance of enthusiasm. Everything would turn out fine. There would be no issues. She just needed to get over whatever was going on in her head. This was going to happen.

"Victoria?" Doctor Jones questioned. Victoria's eyes flickered over to her. "How do you feel about all of this?"

"Fine," was all Victoria offered. She knew that if she said how she truly felt then her husband would only get angry and she didn't want that. She didn't want him to get annoyed because she knew how he would react. But she wasn't going to fake enthusiasm.

"Fine?" Homelander asked from his wife and she glanced to him.

She shrugged her shoulders in his direction. The look in his eye felt dangerous. "I almost died giving birth to Evelyn," she reminded him. "I think it's only natural that I am slightly apprehensive."

"But you heard the Doctor," Homelander said. "You'll be on complete rest. It won't be like last time. You will be fine and have the best medical team around you."

"Even with complete rest, there are still risks," Doctor Jones added in and Homelander's glare turned in her direction. But she didn't shrink underneath it. She wasn't intimidated by him. She had a sense that there was a conflict here between what he wanted and what Victoria wanted. "Your blood pressure is slightly high too and so I want to monitor that before we go through next steps."

"Couldn't that just be from nerves?" Homelander asked.

"It could be, but I want to monitor it anyway," Doctor Jones said to him. "I suggest that we wait a month before you both try for a child again. Until then I assume you are on birth control?"

Homelander scoffed and Victoria glanced to him. An amused grin formed on his face as he glanced down to his lap. "Oh, we have the best form of birth control," he said, silently referring to the fact that his wife let him nowhere near her.

"We're fine," Victoria said, but she suspected that Doctor Jones knew what was going on. It turned out that Homelander hadn't mentioned that other techniques would need to be used to get Victoria pregnant. Surely he wasn't holding out on her actually sleeping with him? That wasn't going to happen.

A knock on the door interrupted the awkward moment and Victoria heard it click open. Turning her head over her shoulder, she saw Ashley poking her head round the wood. "Homelander, we need to go," she said and Homelander looked to the clock on the wall of the office. He let out a deep sigh. The examination had taken longer than he'd expected. "The interview with-"

"-Yes, I know," Homelander interrupted her and he moved to his feet. "Doctor Jones, if that is all then I need to go."

"That's all," Doctor Jones said. "I just need to run through some things with Victoria…finish up her bloodwork and then we're done."

"Alright," Homelander said, standing behind Victoria and resting his hands on her shoulders. He squeezed them tightly in his grip and bent down to kiss the top of her head. He felt her shudder before leaning further down and whispering in her ear. "I'll see you tonight, sweetheart," he said and she nodded as he kissed her on the cheek before straightening himself out and leaving without another word.

The door closed behind him and Victoria remained where she was sat. She closed her eyes for a moment. Doctor Jones continued to observe her, beady green eyes flickering over her face. Victoria kept quiet until finally the other woman spoke, hoping that Homelander was long gone from the building.

"You don't want this, do you?" Doctor Jones checked.

Victoria looked scared for a moment, the fear apparent on her face and in her eyes. She lifted her head up and looked to the woman. She shook her head. "No," she whispered the simple word.

"Have you spoken to him about this?"

"What I say doesn't matter," Victoria just said to her. "He wants a child and he has a habit of getting what he wants."

"And what he said earlier…about you not being on birth control right now…" Doctor Jones tested the water. Victoria wasn't sure how much she should say to her. She didn't want to drag her into their business.

"We don't sleep together. If…if we decide to have a child then it won't be through the usual method," she decided on saying. "But if you can buy me a month then maybe I can find a way out of this."

"There are ways around this," Doctor Jones said and she leaned back in her chair. She knew that she was putting herself in danger. She might not be scared to tell Homelander the truth, but she was scared of deceiving him. If he found out then she knew what he could do. She had seen the news. She'd seen him decapitate a man and face no repercussions. He clearly had terrified his wife too.

"Like what?" Victoria wondered from her.

"If you intend on getting pregnant via insemination then…he does not need to be present," Doctor Jones said and she wondered if she could even trust Victoria. Would she just run back to Homelander? But there was something about her that made the elder woman think that she wouldn't. She was looking for an out.

"He'd insist he was."

"And if so then perhaps we can come up with other methods…we don't need to use what he gives us if you know what I mean?" Doctor Jones asked.

"He'd get suspicious. Considering I became pregnant so quickly without contraception before," Victoria replied. "He'd maybe accept a month of it not working, but no longer than that."

"Then it buys you a couple more months," Doctor Jones said. "I hope you know that I am risking everything by suggesting this. Your husband isn't a man I'd want to mess with."

"Then why are you risking everything?" Victoria settled on asking her.

"Because I also don't want to cause an unwanted pregnancy," Doctor Jones said. "I meant what I said earlier. Having his baby is incredibly high risk. You could die. I don't want to be the cause of that when you don't want to take the risk."

Victoria nodded her agreement. She didn't particularly want that either. She watched the Doctor for a moment and knew that she had no other option but to trust her. And she did. There was something about her that she felt was trustworthy. And Victoria was running out of people to trust.

…

Victoria had to find a way to let Annie know that Alex was still alive. She wasn't sure how she was going to do that considering Homelander didn't let her anywhere near a phone. She closed her eyes for a moment as she thought about going to Billy's office. She suspected Homelander would be annoyed, but they had to know so that they could protect Alex.

"I want to go and see Billy," Victoria settled on saying one night as she cooked dinner.

They were all in the kitchen. Homelander had been talking to Ryan while holding Evelyn against him, cradling her in his arms as blabbered about something inconsequential. He was entertaining her though, amazed at how much she kept changing in front of him. She was now starting to try and walk on her own. She could speak some words and almost form some sentences, but Homelander always found himself melting whenever she said 'daddy.' He loved it. He knew that he would never tire of hearing it.

"Billy?" Ryan was the one to ask. But Ryan was still angry with Billy. He was still upset at how he had behaved, pushing him away from him. But Ryan had his dad now. He was happy with his dad. "Why would you want to see him?"

"Good question, Ryan," Homelander said as Evelyn gargled in his arms and he patted her back gently, burping her. Victoria remained where she was in the kitchen, stirring a cheese sauce on the stove before adding the macaroni and placing it into the oven. "Why would you want to go and see him?"

"He's my brother," Victoria said, looking to her husband. "And you know he has a lot going on."

Homelander chuckled. Victoria suspected that Ryan had no idea that Billy's days were numbered. She watched as Homelander moved to his feet and sauntered towards her, still holding Evelyn. He stood behind his wife as Victoria took the sauce of the heat to stop it from burning. She turned around to face him, her front almost pressing against his. He observed her with an arched brow, looking entertained.

"You want to run off and tell him about your lover, huh?" Homelander suspected and Victoria rolled her eyes at his words. She wasn't going to get drawn into an argument. But Homelander looked more entertained than anything. "And why would I let you do that?"

"Because they think he is dead and that's not fair," Victoria said to him.

"That's because life isn't fair," he replied, voice light and airy as he bounced Evelyn in his arms and she giggled.

"Daddy," she laughed his name and he picked her up to kiss her on the forehead.

"Do you like being bounced?" he asked his daughter. "I think you do, don't you?"

She laughed again as he bounced her and Victoria wanted to snap at him to give her his attention, but she knew what he was doing. He was taunting her and biding his time. He continued playing with Evelyn before deciding that his wife deserved his full attention. Victoria went back to preparing dinner, covering the pasta with the sauce and then ladling it into a tray for the oven. Homelander moved with Evelyn back towards Ryan.

"Ryan, can you take your sister to play for a while? I just need to talk to your step-mum," Homelander said and Ryan nodded. He took Evelyn from her and Victoria managed a soft smile over to him before adding the dirty dishes to the dishwasher. Homelander remained stood on the spot, hands on his hips. Shrugging his shoulders, he looked over to her with an arched brow.

"So this is the plan, is it? Get him back to help them defeat me?" Homelander asked.

Victoria closed the dishwasher and sighed, looking to the ceiling for a moment before folding her arms over her chest, crumpling the brown jumper she wore tucked into a white floral skirt.

"I don't want him to come back because I know that you would just kill him," Victoria replied. "I just want Annie to know that he's out there somewhere because she is his friend."

"So considerate of everyone's feelings, aren't you?" Homelander asked, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. Victoria frowned and moved towards him and he inhaled a whiff of her perfume, seeing her curls bounce around her shoulders.

"Have I not done everything you've asked?" Victoria asked from him. "Have I not dangled off your arm and said all the right things? I'm trying here, John. I am trying to make things work and all I am getting from you is sarcasm and insults."

"Because you keep insisting on bringing up that Mexican-"

"-I just want Annie to know he's alive!" Victoria snapped at him, interrupting him before he could say anything derogatory like he was used to. "I want her to know that because he is her friend. It's not like I'm telling her so she can bring him back here and what? We can continue some illicit affair? I know that's never going to happen. I've told you I'm not going anywhere."

"Why can you not love me like you love him?" Homelander demanded from her.

"You know why," Victoria replied. "I've told you that's not coming back. I'm not going to love you like that ever again…but I am here…I am doing what you want of me and I am not pushing back against you."

"I can't keep doing this," Homelander replied with a shake of his head. "In time…when there's no one but us…you'll feel differently. I know you will."

"No, I won't."

"Yes, you will," he retorted. "But…I'll go and see your brother and tell him."

Victoria's eyes widened in surprise. Homelander didn't entirely like the idea of Victoria being near her brother because he knew what they were both like. Billy would plot to get Victoria away from Homelander and he didn't need that happening, no matter how often she claimed something like that would never happen again.

"You will?"

"Yes," Homelander said through gritted teeth.

"You won't hurt him?"

"I'd like to, but I imagine the Temp-V coursing through his veins will do more damage. Besides…he has an expiration date now. He's going to grow weak…too weak to go up against me anyway."

"Can you perhaps not say that with so much glee? He is my brother," Victoria reminded Homelander and he chuckled darkly. He guessed she had a point on that one. He nodded his head once. Stepping towards her as she checked the oven's temperature, he moved his hands to rest on her hips. Victoria tried to ignore his touch, the feeling of his thumbs roaming over the material of her skirt enough to make her shudder. She tried to repress it, knowing that an argument with him wasn't going to help her.

"He's a thorn in your side," Homelander decided on saying to her. "I think the more distance the better when it comes to you two."

Victoria wanted to disagree, but she knew it would do her no good. She just stood up straight and turned around to face him, feeling his hands skirt against her as she moved. She folded her arms over her chest, trying to put some distance between the two of them.

"Yesterday you said that you didn't care that I'd seen him," she retorted, voice firm.

Homelander rolled his eyes up towards the ceiling, letting out an exasperated sigh at hearing her. "Yes, well, I'm rather changeable as you know," he replied. "And I am doing this for your best interests. Everything I do is for your best interests and you know that, sweetheart. You know that I do is for you and the good of our family."

Victoria said nothing in response to that. He moved his hand up to her cheek and curled his finger underneath her chin. He picked her gaze up to meet his before bending down, his forehead resting against hers and his other hand moving from her waist to rest flat against her stomach. Victoria didn't know what he was doing, but she knew that she wanted to be nowhere near him.

"I love you," he whispered to her, warm breath hitting her cheek. "I will always love you and I will always take care of you just like I always have."

Victoria felt him move closer, his lips pressing to the corner of her jaw. She closed her eyes and wondered if he might try and go further, but he didn't. He stood up abruptly and walked away from her, leaving and shouting for Ryan and Evelyn. Victoria collapsed back against the counter, hands gripping onto it behind her and head tilting back. She looked to the ceiling and felt her eyes begin to water, knowing that he wasn't going to quit until he had her back where he wanted her.

…

Billy was sitting on the sofa in his apartment, bottle of scotch in front of him and fingers curled around the glass. The TV was playing some pointless show in the background that he wasn't paying attention to. This was how he spent most of his nights. He drank until he passed out. It was the only way he could sleep. Every time he closed his eyes he saw things that haunted him. Becca on the floor of the forest. Victoria crying after him as he abandoned her as a teenager. Ryan choosing Homelander over him.

The issue was that Billy didn't know how he was going to stop Homelander now. Soldier Boy had been his only hope and now he couldn't think of anything else. He knew that the District Attorney was trying to take Homelander to court, but that seemed like a slow progress and he knew that Homelander would never rot in a cell. There wasn't a cell that would be able to contain him.

Tipping the final drop of scotch in his glass down his throat, Billy didn't have chance to refill the glass. He heard that sudden noise outside of his window and he waited patiently for a few seconds. Standing up, he moved to the window and opened it. There he was, dressed in all of his stars and stripes and looking at Billy expectantly.

"This isn't a social visit," Homelander declared, hands on his hips.

"What have you done to her?" Billy demanded and Homelander chuckeld darkly, teeth bared.

"You always assume I've done something to her when, in fact, I've done nothing but love her and provide her with everything she needs," Homelander declared. "In fact, I am here as a favour to her. She wanted to come and tell you herself, but I'm not sure it's in her best interests to see you right now…she keeps getting upset…worked up…it's not good for her."

"Did you ever think that you might be the reason why she's like that?" Billy demanded from him.

Homelander's teeth ground together. Billy moved back into his apartment, knowing that the supe would follow him. He poured himself another glass of scotch and sat back down on his sofa. Homelander moved into the apartment, leaving the window open behind him.

"She'd be happier if it was just us and no distractions," Homelander said. "Anyway, that's what's going to happen in time because you have that Temp-V running through your veins…Starlight isn't strong enough to go up against me…I mean, I guess she would have Supersonic if she could find him, but chances of that are slim."

Billy put his drink down on the stained coffee table as he drank in what Homelander had just said to him. His brows furrowed, knitting together. Shaking his head, he picked his gaze up. "You killed Supersonic."

"Nope," Homelander said with a pop of his lips. "I just said that I did, but unfortunately I couldn't find him. Ended up killing some random people instead and pretended it was him…figured it would be better if Vicky thought he was dead."

Billy's own lips arched upwards and he tossed his head back with a laugh. "You seriously thought that would endear her towards you?"

Homelander walked slowly to the armchair and peered down at the cushion before sweeping his cape to the side and settling himself down in the seat. He clasped his hands on the arms of it. "I thought she might forget about him in time and move on…but then I realised that was never going to happen and so I told her…figured it would put me in her good books."

Billy continued smirking. "Yeah?" he asked. "And how did that go?"

Homelander's eyes flashed with annoyance, jaw clenched and chin jutting out. "Do you want to guess?"

"Don't need to," Billy replied. "I know that she can't fucking stand you."

"It's just going to take her time. She loved me despite knowing the real me before and she will love me again…there are things that we can do to bring us closer together. We have a daughter together…having Evelyn helped to bond us more than you can imagine," Homelander replied. "It was me she clung to when she became a mother. It was me who comforted her and looked after her."

"She took that kid and ran away."

"It was a mistake on her part," Homelander said. "She had people like you, Starlight and Supersonic filling her mind with poison. She doesn't have that anymore. There's no one to do that to her."

"She's a clever girl, you know?" Billy replied. "She's not going to be suckered in by you again."

"You don't know her like I do. You abandoned her, remember? I was the one who took care of the man who abused her. I was the one who held her when she woke up from nightmares of what he'd done. I've seen every single part of her and I know her better than you ever could. She still has feelings for me and they will come out again. I know it. Besides, when we have another baby things will get better."

Billy swore he saw red then. His hands clenched into fists, knuckles turning white. He wasn't able to comprehend that. He didn't want to comprehend it. There was absolutely no chance that his sister was pregnant. How could that even be possible? Standing up, Billy looked down at Homelander who just remained where he was with the smug grin on his face.

"If you've touched her…" Billy let the threat hang in the air.

"What you going to do? You know you can't hurt me," Homelander said. He didn't even look threatened by what he was hearing. "Besides, I'd never touch her without her consent. I respect her far too much for that."

"You're never going to touch her again."

"She'll be begging to me to eventually," Homelander said. "But don't worry about that. Your sister has always been safe so long as she is with me…besides, there's other ways for her to get pregnant. She's not keen on the idea right now, but when she'd had our baby then she'll be fine. Look at how much she dotes on Evelyn."

"And you think what you're doing is any better than raping her?" Billy demanded. "But then again look at your track record."

"Your wife came onto me. I've told you that."

"Don't fucking mention her," Billy demanded from him. "What you intend to do to Victoria is not consensual. You can't force her to have a baby…your baby…it's barbaric."

"I am not forcing her."

Billy scoffed. "So she has agreed to it?" he questioned. "Because I really fucking doubt it."

"She might not agree right now, but she will. Having another baby will be good for us…for our image," Homelander said. He imagined announcing her pregnancy on some chat show. He imagined how people would soften towards him when they heard the news. They would see that he could never be a war criminal when he was a self-respected family man. He didn't like admitting that this was more for him than anything. He needed this and she needed to understand that she was his wife. He gave her freedom. He gave her space. She just needed to do this for him.

"You know I'm not going to stop, don't you?" Billy checked with him. "Until my last dying breath I'm going to do everything to make sure you're in the grave next to me."

"Well, you should move quickly because from my quick scan I don't think you have all too much time left," Homelander said, his teeth bared in a smile. "I used to see you as a challenge, but now I just pity you. But don't worry, I'll look after Vicky when you're gone."

Billy let the hate flow through him as Homelander continued watching him with the smarmy expression on his face. He would stop him. There was no chance he was letting him get away with this.

….

Victoria had left Evelyn with Natalie in the nursery, claiming that she just needed some air for a short while. Stepping outside of Vought Towers in her green pleated skirt and black shirt, she pulled her red coat tighter around her body, heels clicking on the floor as she walked along the sidewalk. She had no idea where she was going. All she knew was that Homelander was away and that gave her some time to escape.

Walking through the streets of New York, Victoria was glad she could blend in with the crowds on Madison Avenue before she headed towards Fifth Avenue, hoping to lose herself in a book shop for a while. She moved her small satchel so that it was in front of her body as she took a right turn. It was as she stood waiting to cross the road when she heard the familiar voice. It was the one she thought she might never hear again.

"Victoria."

Turning her head to the side, Victoria looked over and saw Daniella stood there. Her red hair sat in a smart bob, straightened and coming down to her shoulders. She was wearing a dark pantsuit with high waisted trousers, a camel coloured coat open around her. Victoria's eyes widened at the sight of her and she wanted to embrace her, but she didn't think that would be appropriate after everything that had happened.

"Daniella," Victoria gasped her name back.

"Just act normal," Daniella urged her. "I don't know if we're being followed by anyone at Vought."

"I doubt it. No one bothers me now. They know I won't run."

"How can you be sure?"

"Because I'd never leave my daughter," Victoria said and Daniella looked satisfied by that answer.

"Alright," she said. "Look, we need to talk."

Victoria scoffed, suddenly remembering the message that Daniella had sent her the morning after Michelle's funeral. She had told her that they needed space. She'd told her how she wouldn't come to Evelyn's Christening. She didn't go to Victoria's wedding. They cut all contact. They were finished.

"Now you want to talk?" Victoria asked from her and then she shook her head, trying not to let emotion overwhelm her. "We can't talk. We have nothing to talk about."

"Yes, there is," Daniella said as Victoria started to cross the road. Daniella matched her stride, refusing to back away or give up. "You know that I am working with the DA now. We're investigating Homelander for what he did…but we also know that there might be more…the more we delve…the more shocking things we find."

Victoria rolled her eyes to the skyline, looking at the buildings surrounding her and trying not to feel too hemmed in. Sighing once, Victoria knew that she had to get Daniella to back off. They kept walking in silence. Victoria wasn't entirely sure where she was going now.

"I'm sorry for what I did," Daniella said to her. "I should never have cut you off like I did after Michelle's funeral. I know now that it was wrong and that…there's something else going on with you. I should have seen it back then. You were withdrawn…not yourself…and I know it was to do with him. I know you don't want to be with him. All of those interviews he's got you doing are bullshit and we both know it."

"What do you want from me?" Victoria demanded, finally snapping. She stood on the sidewalk, people exasperated as they had to walk around her. She flapped her arms out by her sides. Daniella took hold of her wrist, dragging her into an alley out of the way of people. Victoria's eyes widened as she continued to look expectantly at her friend.

"I want the truth," Daniella said. "I want to help you."

Victoria scoffed. "You can't help me," she said. "Trust me, there's no helping me."

"What does he have over you? You running away because of the pressures of being married to him…having his baby…I know that's not you. You ran away from him because you're scared."

Victoria let out a hollow laugh. "If you had any sense then you'd be scared of him too. You've seen what he's capable of. He lasered a man's head clean from his shoulders and he still has people supporting him."

"More people are against him than before. Starlight has seen to that," Daniella said. "I just…what has he done to you? Vicky…has he hurt you?"

Victoria shook her head slowly. "He won't hurt me," she said. "In his own mind he loves me and as long as he loves me then I have protection…but if I do anything to endanger that then I don't know. I've done too much…gone against him too often and I can't keep pushing him. I'm doing what I have to do to survive and to keep my daughter safe."

"We can protect you, Victoria. If you come with me and you tell us everything you know then we can protect you and your daughter."

Victoria continued to shake her head. "No," she said firmly. "I am not testifying against him."

"But you could stop him from doing this again. The DA is serious, Vicky…we want to prosecute him…we want him to answer for everything he's done," Daniella said.

Victoria cocked her head to the side. "Is this about you want to prosecute him or help me?"

Daniella looked slightly hurt, her nose wrinkling and her face scrunching up. Victoria didn't care if she'd upset her though. "You know this is about you. I went to the DA's office after he saw me appealing for information on what had happened to you on TV…I thought that Homelander had killed you. I thought the worst and…Georgina…she made me understand that maybe you weren't with him through choice…I just…why did you never say anything? Why did you not talk to us?"

"Because you know who he is and what he can do. I was trying to protect you and I could never openly admit it," Victoria said. "The things he's done…who he is…you could never have known because if you'd have done something then I worried about what he would have done. I ran away, yes, but he found me. He found me and if I run away again and turn my back on him then the next time, he catches me I doubt he'd be as forgiving."

"I know you're scared," Daniella said, taking hold of Victoria's shoulders and stepping towards her. She hesitantly embraced her, holding her in her arms and Victoria let her. She remained where she was, cautiously letting her own arms wrap around her friend's waist. "I know you're scared and I can see it on your face…I get it…but he needs to be held accountable. He needs to pay for what he's done and you can help us. You can help save yourself and everyone else who might anger him."

Victoria pushed Daniella back then. Her upper lip curled and she shook her head. "Going with you wouldn't save me, Daniella. It would sign my death warrant. He'd kill me."

"We could-"

"-There is no escaping him!" Victoria snapped loudly. "I need you to get that into your head, Daniella. There's no escaping him and I've seen too many people get hurt by him. I'm done, okay?"

"What about that man he killed? Anyone else he's murdered in cold blood?"

Victoria closed her eyes, pulse racing. "I know this is selfish. I know that I am being a coward….and I am sorry…I am so sorry for everyone he's hurt…the families that have been left behind…but I am doing what I have to do to survive him. I am doing what I have to do to stay with my daughter. I am going to be his perfect wife for as long as I have to be and for as long as it keeps me alive."

"Vicky…no…come on," Daniella tried to reason with her, but Victoria shook her head.

"No," she said, voice firm. "I'm his wife. I'm going back home and I need you to stay away. For your own sake, just stay away from him…from us."

Victoria moved from the alleyway, not wanting to get drawn into anything further. She hurried down the sidewalks and hoped that Daniella wasn't following her. She rushed ahead a few blocks and by the time she found herself approaching Times Square, she was satisfied that Daniella was gone and she was away from her.

…

Homelander had been doing interview after interview that day. He'd returned to the penthouse to a written note that informed him that Ryan was training and Evelyn was in the nursery. Victoria had said that she had popped out for some fresh air. He mulled around the penthouse by himself, heading into the kitchen and grabbing the milk carton from the fridge. He gulped down a few mouthfuls before pulling his gloves off of his fingers. He moved around the kitchen, looking on the counter at where Victoria's mug sat and her box of tea. He headed back to the living area and saw the desk and bookshelf he'd bought her when she had first agreed to move in with him. He'd done it so that she had a space to work. He had not once tried to stop her from working. He had supported her. He'd even been to her events in the early days, hiding backstage and watching her deliver her papers with a nervous shake to her voice. He'd given her lessons on public speaking.

He remembered being in her apartment, sitting on the edge of her bed with her in front of him as he trained her how to talk to an audience.

"You need to stop looking down all the time," he said.

He was still wearing his suit. He'd flown to her apartment as soon as he had finished his work for the day. He'd hovered outside of her bedroom window and she'd let him, stressing about a paper she was going to deliver the following day. He'd insisted on helping her. So she stood in front of him, still dressed in her red skirt and white shirt, legs bare and ankles crossed.

"But my notes are always going to be down there," she replied.

"I know that, but you don't need to read a full script. Just have some main points that you can talk around," he said to her. "Then you only have to glance down occasionally…but make sure you look up."

"Okay," she exhaled and then looked up. "And the issue with the Resolution is that there needs to be further clarity-"

"-You're looking straight to the back of the room," Homelander interrupted her paper and she moved her glaze to him as he leant back, arms stretched behind him and palms planted firmly on her mattress. "Try to look at people…have eye contact…it will help them be more engaged with what you're saying."

"Yeah, but it's a bit weird just practicing and making eye contact with you."

"Practice makes perfect, sweetheart," he reminded her.

She let out another breath.

"The Resolution offers a definition, but the definition is somewhat flaky. There needs to be more certainty-"

"-You need to stand up straight," he interrupted again and she huffed weakly before he stood up. Moving to go behind her, he wrapped an arm around her waist, hand splaying on her stomach and forcing her upright, back pressed to his front. "Your voice will travel further and you will look more confident. You know your stuff, Vicky. You're clever…and everyone should listen to what you've got to say."

"I prefer being the one in the background doing the work and letting someone else talk for me," she complained and Homelander kissed the top of her head.

"You should have credit for your own work," he replied.

"I know…it's just…it sucks that I am so bad at this."

"It takes practice," he assured her as she turned in his grip. He moved his arms around her and she dropped her papers onto the desk by the side of her. She moved her arms around his neck, cheek pressing there and he relished the feeling of her hair against his skin. "But I believe in you, darling. I always believe in you."

She nestled tighter against him, feeling content as she said those three words he never got tired of hearing from her lips. "I love you."

Homelander was snapped out of his memory as he heard the door slam and footsteps in the living room. Turning on his heel, he saw Victoria walking in. She pulled her bag from her body and dropped it onto the sofa alongside a few shopping bags. Homelander moved his hands behind his back. "Where have you been?" he asked her.

"I went out shopping for a while," she answered him and he saw her tuck her hair behind her ears. She bit down on her tongue for a moment as he moved closer towards her. "I'll just go and fetch Evelyn."

And then he inhaled and smelt it. He'd been in her apartment enough times when she'd lived with her friends. "What did Daniella want?" he questioned. Victoria stood up straight, stiffening for a moment and looking apprehensive. "You don't have make this hard, Victoria."

"She wanted me to testify against you," Victoria said to him and he moved towards her slowly, hands still behind his back and blue eyes flickering across her face. He stood inches from her, listening to her heart rate. "She is working on the case against you and she thinks I know more than I am letting on, which isn't wrong…but I didn't give her anything. I told her I wasn't going to help her."

Homelander's brow arched. "Your heart is racing."

"Because I'm scared of what you could do to her," Victoria said. "But we promised to tell the truth to each other and I'm telling you the truth. That was what she wanted and I told her I wasn't going to help her. I'm not going to go against you."

"Not publicly, anyway," Homelander scoffed.

"I haven't done anything to betray your trust, have I?" she asked him. "You know I haven't…here," she said and she took his hand. She pressed his palm against his chest, his fingers stretching out and feeling the material of her shirt. She kept her hand over his. "I'm not lying to you. I swear on our daughter," she said. "I am doing everything you want of me."

Homelander knew she was telling him the truth. She wasn't lying. She was being honest and that meant so much to him. He lowered his face towards her, his forehead resting against hers. He smiled as he whispered to her, warm breath in her face. "I know," he agreed. "Because you're my wife…my Victoria…and deep down you know it. You're mine."

Victoria didn't pull back from him as he kissed her softly, his lips resting on hers. Thankfully he didn't try to deepen the kiss. It was just a chaste peck before he pulled back and wrapped her into his arms, holding her and remembering all the good times they'd had and swearing he'd get them back again with her.

….

A/N: Another update! Trying to keep things moving along slowly before we hit season 4 which hopefully isn't too far away (fingers crossed!) Thank you so much for all the reviews/follows in the mean time. Do let me know what you think might play out!