AN: Hi Everyone!

I have not posted my stories on any other website than Fanfiction. If you see this story or my other ones on other sites it's not me posting it.

I hope you enjoy the chapter.

TIMELINE & DATE:

I think Season 3 happens during 2021 with the last few episodes happening after Homelander's Birthday Special which is July 4th. So I put the action for the last few episodes to happen towards the end of August or first week of September.

For this story I am moving the date up by one year so Chapters 1 through 15 happen during the last week of August first week of September 2022.

My reasoning is that in the show they have a presidential election coming up. In the real world the next election is 2024 and campaigning starts around two years before the election so it fits nicely with the real world and makes future date calculations much easier for me.

AS I'm starting the time skip I won't be providing exact dates only months and years and sometimes only years as we get further along the timeline.

Chapter 24.

Date: October 2023

Ryan looked at his father with skeptic eyes while a cocktail of emotions were bubbling up inside of him threatening to burst.

Anger, hate, sadness, betrayal were prominent and while coursing through him along with a million thoughts a second in his head he felt most of all being weirded out and somewhat awkward.

"Dad even I know it's supper weird to pay someone to be my friend at school." He finally said after his father finished his explanations.

He stole a look at David and felt the awkwardness overcome him. He felt a bit of envy of the older boy being so 'cool' with the situation.

"I'm not exactly paying him to be your friend." His father replied.

"But it would be nice if we could continue to be friends." David interjected with a smile.

At first he felt jealous when his father brought the speedster along to train and spend time with them. The older boy was just better than him at almost everything their dad made them do and he made it seem so effortlessly.

He picked up Noir's martial arts training faster, aced water rescues simulations with Deep and always knew what to say in the de-escalation scenarios with Starlight and Silver Kinkaid. Not to mention how well he did in speed training with A-Train.

Ryan thought Blink might even be faster and better than A-Train himself. The older boy was always in control of his speed and never seemed have a wasted movement, a testament to his moniker Blink.

Cause if you blinked you missed him.

Every task his dad gave them he made it look easy, cool and effortless.

And Ryan hated it…at first.

It didn't take long for Ryan get absorbed into the older boy's good nature.

David was quite funny, always seemed to be smiling and with a sincere openness that spoke to Ryan. The older boy also helped him was able to explain things in a way that Ryan understood. Even more importantly than that Blink was able to go his 'speed' both figuratively and literally and he liked the same books, games and videos like him.

Ryan felt like he had connected with David in a way he had never connected with anyone else. He had thought he had made his first friend. And now his father was revealing it was all a ruse and he was going to get paid for it.

"But you're paying him to come and hang out with me a school, to watch over me…" He trailed off.

"No, Ryan. That is not what I said." Homelander started again. "I was actually going to give David a scholarship all the way through college even if he did not agree to my deal. I had already discussed this with his parents. As for watching over you…" his father hesitated a bit as if thinking about the right words "what I mean is…and I don't want you take this the wrong way son…and it's not that I don't trust you or anything like that…it's just that it's always best to have a contingency plan." His father paused slightly again.

"Always, so that's why Blink is going to be your contingency in case you lose control of yourself and your powers."

Ryan looked at his father with wide scared eyes while an anxious knot filled his chest.

"You…you don't trust me?" He said slowly. "You don't think I can handle school?" his voice almost a whisper.

He had asked his dad to let him go to school like a normal kid.

His whole life he had been homeschooled either by his mom directly or tutors. He never understood why he couldn't go to school like the kids he saw in movies though at the time he really had no idea how special he was.

He had always dreamed of it and after the accident with his mom and Stormfront he had resigned himself that he would likely never go. He did not want to accidentally hurt the other children.

But after moving in with his dad they had practiced their powers relentlessly and he was confident he had everything under control.

And now his dad was admitting that his hard work was not enough.

"No son. That's not it. I trust you. I trust you would not ever use miss use your powers or loose control in almost any type of situation." His father said putting a hand on his shoulder.

They were in the living room of the apartment in Vought tower.

"Hell, I know I could throw you in a hostage situation right now and I'm confident you'd be able to save them all and even stop the terrorist non-lethally." Homelander said and Ryan felt a surge of pride swell up in him.

"But school Ryan…is a totally different beast." He said and grimaced. "Kids can be real pricks anything and everything and they are relentless." His father continued. "And for people like us…well…you know the saying 'Sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me'?"

Ryan nodded still wide-eyed looking as his dad.

"Well for people like us it's almost like the opposite 'Sticks and stone can NEVER break our bones but words can always hurt us'…kind of." His father looked at him with concern in his eyes.

"Kids will lie about, pick on and make fun of anything and everything. They can be real pricks sometimes and drive you insane….not you of course son!' his father finished off.

School couldn't be that bad? Could it? Sure he'd seen bullying in movies but that was always exaggerated…right?

"In fifth grade this girl in my class Farah stepped on some bubble wrap that made a popping noise making it sound like she farted." Blink said. "For the rest of the year everyone called her Farting Farah, it was pretty brutal. It got so bad she switched the school in the district over in grade six. But this other guy Andrew in my class mate his cousin went to that school so they eventually found about Farting Farah and called her that as well. Rumor goes she eventually went to live in California with her uncle's family." David said with a shrug of his shoulders.

Both Ryan and Homelander starred with wide eyes at Blink. "Right, well I'm not saying that will happen to you Ryan but in the case you do get into a situation where your emotions will get the better of you because of whatever kids might say or do hopefully David will be able to reach you in time and... minimize damage."

"I see." Ryan said understanding better. He knew from training that David was strong and fast enough to restrain him…at least on the ground.

"Plus it would be nice if we already knew someone at the school even if we are in different grades." David said. "It's always hard for kids to make friends when they join late. We can at least eat together in the cafeteria and bitch about our roommates." He said with a smile. "Oh and sorry for the language sir." He said sheepishly.

Ryan just saw his father give Blink 'the look'…the one where he was not 'buying it' one bit.

"Ok dad I think I get it." He said getting back their attention. He felt better about the situation still he felt compelled to ask. "But what about if David loses it?"

"It's true. I could also lose it." David said with another shrug. "But pranks are more my style rather than wanton violence…but yea can't say some guys don't get under my skin."

"Well Ryan that's when it will be up to you to step up and stop him. I know you can do it despite what you may think." His dad said calmly. "You two will have to watch over each other and keep an eye out for each other."

Ryan felt another surge or pride within him. On the ground David was better than him but in the air he was master, plus he was pretty sure he was way tougher than the speedster.

"And if we both lose control?"

"It's true sir. What if we both mess up?" Blink asked calmly.

"Well we cannot plan for every eventuality. There will always be that risk." Homelander said standing straight hands on his hips. "We have to deal with what we can and cannot do and continue on striving for the best. If that happens we simply have to deal with the consequences but hopefully it won't come to that." He finished calmly.

Ryan looked at his dad for a bit in silence contemplating.

"Ok dad I get it. I'm not upset anymore."

"So still friends?" David asked extending his hand and Ryan couldn't help but smile. "Yea friends."

"Cool! We're gonna have so much fun! The Maya school is like so much better than my shitty school in San Diego! They have an actual pool and a cheer leading team!" David said excitedly and put a hand over his shoulder. "Oh we should finish Baldur's Gate before we go I don't think they'll let us bring our consoles!"

Ryan felt that even if he ended up not liking school at least he would still be able to hand out with David so it won't be so bad.

Scene Break

Date: December 2023

Maeve took a swing of her cocktail glass and downing the remaining contents and in one smooth motion put the glass down on a passing waiter's tray.

"Maeve good to see you!" A-Train said as he walked up to her and leaned in for a hug and kiss on the cheek. "I see you're finally getting a break from well…everyone."

"Not anymore I'm not" She replied with a mischievous smile leaning in to the hug. It wasn't hard to admit to herself that she had missed being out at a party without having to worry about anything.

Motherhood so far had been everything everyone had ever warned her rewarding, hard work, stressful, joyous and frankly exhausting. Even for someone like her when you added the additional work of being Vought's Nr. 1 Super Mommy things got too much.

So tonight she was going to enjoy this new year's gala even if it was a Vought event and she would have to deal with the usual bullshit.

"Where's little Connor tonight?" He asked gently.

"Elena's parents are babysitting." She said stealing a look at her lover across the room talking with a group of people.

"Nice, you guys finally get a night out." A-Train started and paused slightly. "Hey listen…sorry for not visiting yet, things have been crazy busy around here and I figured you guys probably wouldn't want …"

"Don't worry. I know." She said in understanding. "With everything going on its honestly easier if people visit less. Between our parents, friends and all the crap I have to do for Vought on the weekends…well sometimes less is more." She replied rolling her eyes. "Plus we got your gift that was very nice and more than enough."

"How's your recovery going?" She asked curiously.

"Honestly, good, real good." She saw him both excitedly and with a tone of tension.

"Why are you saying it like it's not a good thing?"

A-Train looked around the room as if looking for something then conflicted. 'Homelander' Maeve thought. He was looking to see if Homelander was around. It wouldn't matter if he was listening he could hear them a mile away if he wanted.

"No, it is a good thing. I'm good, better than ever, even faster. My heart is strong and has adapted to my body as if it was the original. At first I thought it was all due to my powers but I think it might be something else they gave during the operation."

Another server passed by and both Maeve and A-Train picked up a new round of drinks.

"New V?" She asked taking a sip.

"Maybe." He said and took a swing of the colorful liquid. "I don't know for sure." He took another sip. "I know HL has the nerds working on some life changing stuff I just thought it was years away but I think…he might be closer than I thought." He sipped again.

"But you said you're ok?"

"Yea, like I said better than ever!"

"So why the … apprehension?" she asked confused.

"Honestly…I don't know." Her teammate finally said. "Things have been going well…too well honestly." He said deflated. "It feels like something bad is about to happen or that like Homelander is preparing us for something. I honestly don't know what it is."

Maeve was starting to get an idea of what was bothering A-Train.

She talked somewhat regularly with Annie to keep up to date on the on goings of the team but really to keep track of Homelander. She knew there had been a lot of changes in the past year in the company as she was there for the beginning of some of them.

The space venture kept Homelander busy certainly but it wasn't only the big changes that were noticed it was the little ones. Homelander had slowly but effectively relinquished control of 'The Seven' to Starlight making her sole Captain in all but name.

She knew from their talks that even though he gave his input in the end it was Starlight's decisions that were actioned and ideas implemented.

Now that she thought about it Maeve wasn't sure if Annie had noticed this or not. She had seemed happy to lead and have her ideas come true.

Either way she did notice that in the past year and the last six months specifically things had been abnormally normal in a corporate 'nine to five' job type of way.

"Perhaps." She finally said. "Maybe he's scheming something." She said contemplatively. "Or maybe things have just gotten to how they should have always been…and we're just not used it." She shrugged her shoulders.

"I…hope so!" A-Train said downing his drink. "Seems like Elena is still caught up in her conversation. Would you care for a dance?" He continued with a happier attitude.

Maeve stole a look at a laughing Elena talking with friends and accepted.

"Come one." She said grabbing his arm and taking him to the dance floor. "I know you're only asking me for a ratings bump but you better bring you're 'A-moves' and keep up. I've been itching to let loos for the last six months!"

A-Train faked betrayed look as he put his hand over his heart.

"What? Me a ratings bump? Why I would never!" He said with a big smile. "And you know I bring my 'A-Game' every time!"

Maeve couldn't help but smile.

Whatever it was Homelander was planning, she thought while bumping to the beat, she would do whatever it took to keep Elena and their cute little bundle of joy safe and happy.

Scene Break

Date: December 2023

Starlight smiled and laughed as sincerely as she could at the older man's joke.

She did just as everyone in the group did. She had no idea if they were all sucking up like her or being sincere but in the end she thought it didn't matter. It was just a simple fact of life that when you were worth billions people laughed at your jokes good or bad and if they wanted your money they laughed extra hard.

The Vought New Year's Gala was both a party and a charity event.

A great opportunity to raise money for her foundation HomeLight, well her and Homelander's…technically. The foundation was her baby in reality making the best she could out of the social media hashtag and couple nickname and using that fame to help homeless and at risk youth.

And isn't that the irony she thought.

Out of all everything that had happened in her life the good and the bad and the fucked up, in the end it was being Homelander's fake girlfriend that allowed her to actually do good and change people's hearts on a massive scale.

"Excuse me gentlemen" she felt a warm hand on her arm.

"Mind if I steal my girlfriend back for a few moments?" Homelander said.

The sensation of his hand on her skin made her heart flutter.

"Not at all!" A chorus of responses affirmed.

"Hey. What's up?" She said following him.

"Nothing, just thought you could use a break." He said with a sly smile. "How's it going so far?"

She wanted to scowl. "Oh nothing, just working on the Rogers." She said and paused. "You could have warned me about Silverman."

"Oh yea he's a little bit handsy." He said.

"A little bit? More like a lot. The man practically cupped my ass while dancing." She said annoyed.

"Yea" He snorted in laugher. "It's more like A LOT. But don't worry his wife is just as grabby. I can already picture the headlines tomorrow. 'Homelander dumps America's sweet heart for OLDER woman! Gets freaky on the dance floor!'"

'America's sweetheart and Homelander's girlfriend.' Oh the irony.

Still she could not deny the results. She knew for sure she had saved and changed more people's lives in the last year with her foundation that she ever did physically as Starlight.

"That bad?" she asked.

The foundation started as Starlight House for homeless and at risk youth which eventually was gobbled up by the broader HomeLight foundation in collaboration with Homelander which was expanding in everything from running local food banks in New York to helping veterans and sick kids. Overall a wide variety of services were being funded by HomeLight.

"Like an old hungry slobbery wet she practically liked me head to toe, except instead of food she wants…well" He said raising his eyebrow.

"Honestly if #metoo was still a thing I'd be tweeting it right now." She actually laughed at that.

Their friends had of course donated with surprisingly Homelander himself at first contributing the largest chunk at twenty million, Vought of course was roped in with some shareholder money but really it was post the whole Soldier Boy ordeal when the money really started to roll in.

'The savior of New York' he'd been called.

"Yikes, sorry you had to go through that?"

She still hurt when think about it. All that death and suffering, families destroyed all because of an obsession to do whatever it takes to kill Homelander. She had felt like there was blood on her hands because she wasn't able to stop it and because of …Hughie.

'Oh the irony' she thought again.

Now it was that same man she thought to kill that was helping her wash the blood off.

"Well it did secure another ten million donation so at least something good came out of it."

Homelander had changed, that much was obvious but it was much more pronounced after supposedly almost dying.

"Come on." He extended his hand. "Let's dance." He said as a slow song came on.

She took his hand and closed in as his hands went to her waist.

He was different, calmer, warmer and more…charming.

Just when she thought she thought she had him figured out he did something different, something better, something that spoke to her.

He supported her ideas and change initiatives and because of that so did the rest of Vought. They had even used Vought News to expose corruption instead of simply spewing out fear mongering news.

They actually helped people now!

Every day she waited for the 'hammer' to drop, for Homelander to take it all away to rip it all away from her. And yet everyday passed and nothing happened.

"You know what I think." He said slowly leaning into her as they swayed to the rhythm. "I think we should give the press something else to talk about."

If anything it seemed Homelander seemed to be distancing himself from 'The Seven' though, she thought, that could also be a simple fact of him being too busy with being Vought Chairman and dealing with the V-Light.

He smiled mischievously and pulled her in, their bodies now gently touching.

A little spark went up her spine and her heart fluttered in response.

Homelander had changed, that she knew for sure as she looked up at him and leaned in, lips parted, meeting his.

She just wasn't sure when she had changed.

Scene Break

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AN:

I have not posted my stories on any other website than Fanfiction. If you see this story or my other ones on other sites it's not me posting it.

Ryan has a friend and is going to school. Maeve is busy as a mom but even mommy needs some time to relax and Starlight and Homelander wrapping up the year.

With V-Light satellites ramping up what should Homelander do next to increase wealth, power and make his company successful.

Let me know what you think in the reviews and don't be surprised if I use your idea.

Thank you for reading!