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 29

Date: June 2025

The sun cascaded down like an avalanche enveloping the spacious yard in a warm blanket while the birds made their presence known in thrilling and cooing songs with only the odd cloud breaking up the blue sky of the serene spring scenery.

That and the talking of guest and giggling of children.

Maeve looked around the birthday decorated spacious backyard and contrasted the active chaos of the children with the exasperated and tired faces of the parents doing their best to both mingle and keep an eye on their bundles of joy.

Ranging between one and a half and four years old the toddlers were doing what toddlers do best. Running, jumping, tripping, falling and bumping around trying to get each other's attention, their parents and any unsuspecting adult who they could rope into their games.

The chaotic happiness was infectious even if tiring.

All in all it was turning up to be a perfect and typical two year old birthday party.

And yet as Maeve sipped her punch filled plastic red cup she couldn't help but feel that something was…off.

There was a mild yet nagging sensation in the back of her head that she was missing something. Instincts honed over a long career as a Vought Hero and all its implications were acting up.

Yet as she scanned the backyard all the details were there as expected.

Annie, Dinah and a few of the other heroes invited were mixing and mingling with her and Elena's friends.

Well it was mostly Elena's friends, being Queen Maeve for a decade and a half did not give her to opportunity to make many real friends.

Acquaintances, coworkers, business contacts, politicians, movers and shakers of the world sure, she knew them by the boatload but real friends were far and few in between.

The Deep and half the dads were congregating around the snacks table. The other half were shepherding the children in the bouncy castle while talking with Homelander and Noir.

Well…Noir mostly stood around stoically while nodding once in a while.

Half the kids were yelling and running around being followed by exasperated mothers.

Soap bubbles were being blown, ice-creams were being licked and fits were being thrown just as one would expect of a bunch of toddlers being together for Connor's birthday.

And still she couldn't help but feel that something was not right.

She sighed and took another sip of her drink.

'Perhaps it's just having everyone together that's making me anxious.' She thought.

She wasn't sure exactly how this motley birthday party came together. She hadn't planned on having a lot of people over but Elena insisted on saying it would be good for Connor and then it slipped during one of the meetings at work.

Then in typical fashion the Deep had to ask when the party was and if they were invited making things awkward, of course Homelander just happened to come in the meeting right before she was able to shoot down Deep's stupidity.

And once you invite one hero you might as well invite a bunch just to spare yourself the social awkwardness.

So here she was with a bunch of heroes, toddlers and star struck parents trying to make the best of it.

And yet as she scanned the crowed again she couldn't help but feel that was not what was bothering her.

"Hey Maeve!" She was suddenly broken out of her thoughts.

"A-Train! I didn't think you'd make it!" She said turning to her newest guest.

"Ah you know how it is. The struggle of my existence, fastest man alive yet somehow I'm always late." He said with a cheerful smile. "Dropped off the present at the front table, hope that's ok."

"That's perfect. Thank you." Maeve acknowledged. "Make sure to have some snacks, Deep and the dad squad over there have been sweeping clean the whole table."

"Don't mind if I do!"

It didn't take long for A-Train to go around greeting everyone and then overly fill his plate with food.

"Listen." A-Train said coming back to her. "I was thinking…I have this idea I want to run by you and I need you to be honest. Since Dinah has…" A-Train stared saying as she went back to scanning the crowd.

Her eyes kept getting drawn to the bouncy castle where Homelander was with a bunch of the dads playing with the kids.

She saw how a gaggle of children surrounded him, Connor included, asking to be picked up and flown around. Homelander would take two at a time in his arms and float around in a circle a few feet of the ground in a sitting cross legged position making 'choo-choo' sounds like a train.

That in and of itself would have been enough to give her anxiety, not that Homelander would have done anything to hurt the children while in public, no, in public he was always able to put on the perfect Boy Scout image, but out of the public eye he always complained about having to interact with the 'snot filled brats'.

Yet now as she observed him she felt his interactions were more…genuine…as if he was taking actual joy in playing with them.

The children of course loved it and begged for more.

There was just something there she couldn't put her finger on it something…odd.

"…I think it would do really great for my image and you know I have so much experience to share…"

She tried to concentrate on what A-Train was saying but her eyes kept getting drawn back to Homelander as he was picking up the kids and throwing them in the air much to the little ones giggling delight.

"…I mean we should probably all do it you know like a passing the baton type a thing…"

She saw him pick-up Connor and her world slowed down to a crawl her vision zoning in on Homelander's face. She would swear that his smile was bigger, his eyes brighter, his demeanor radiating pure joy. She couldn't see any signs faking it…even his scars seemed to soften.

As Connor's head was just about higher than Homelander's, both the boy and he looking at each other with joy, she felt a sudden electric jolt through nerves at the picture perfect image of the two.

The slope of the nose, the angling of the eyes, the shape of the mouth and chin they were…

"MAEVE!"

She was suddenly startled by the loud voice and she noticed some of the guests turning her way.

"Earth to Maeve! Are you ok?" A-Train asked as he got in front of her.

"What?" She asked confused. "What's the matter?"

"Were you not listening?' A-Train asked concerned.

"Sorry I was. I just got caught up thinking about some other work stuff. I just didn't catch the last part. You were saying about the…" and she paused trying to recall what A-Train had just said.

"The apprentices, interns, side-kicks whatever you want to call them." A-Train jumped back in. "I'm thinking I should get one, you should as well. Silver-Kinkaid has Iron-Storm, Golden Boy is practically big blue's replacement now that you're back so I'm thinking I should get one as well."

"I didn't know you were planning on hanging up your running shoes." She said. "Especially since you just 'came back'."

"Well I don't, not for a few more years at least but like eventually I'll have to right? Might as well do it on my own terms and pick someone that can fill in the shoes." A-Train said with a shrug.

"And also squeeze in a few more years of top ratings and merch deals?" She asked coyly.

"Well A-Man's got to make a living right." He answered back just as coyly. "So I was thinking…"

As she continued her conversation with A-Train she couldn't help but steal back glances at Homelander and her son.

'No…I must be imagining it.'

She thought as she shook herself out of that train of thought yet the odd feeling never left her.

Scene Break

Date: July 2025

"I'm telling you man she's so into you! I've seen how she looks at you in math class and I heard it from Sonja, I swear it!"

Ryan looked with skepticism at his dark skinned classmate, Devon, sitting next to him in the middle seat of the three seat row.

"The only thing you heard from Sonja is her rejecting you when you asked her out!" Tim said from the window seat.

"At least I had the courage to ask her out!" Devon snapped back. "You chickened out last minute with Kayla!"

"I told you I want to ask her when we get to Paris!" Tim answered back harshly but in a shushed voice.

"And keep your voice down! The whole dam plane is going to hear you!" He continued.

They were on an evening flight going to Europe for an annual school trip.

School with actual people and not just home tutors had been more and less than he'd expected.

There were no grand adventures like the movies had made it seem, just an everyday boring slog of learning, club activities and hanging out in the dorms after class.

"…dude there's like two countries before that, you're going to miss out on the whole trip!" Devon countered.

Though it also wasn't nearly as bad as his dad or some of the movies had made it seem either. No grand bullying that he saw or experienced, sure kids picking on each other and making fun there was plenty of that but he didn't see anything too bad.

Then again he was at a private school, the Maya New York centre didn't just let anyone in even if half the students were from disparaged economic backgrounds…or at least that's what how his dad put it.

It probably also helped that Blink was also attending and looking out for him. David had practically slid right into all the popular circles as if he'd always been there.

They had decided to not reveal their powers to the rest of the students and try not to use them at school unless they needed it.

It wasn't exactly hiding as he was sure he'd been previously photographed with his dad while in costume but he wasn't actively telling people he was Homelander's son either.

So far none of the students had said anything about it.

"We'll that's my choice! You can't force me too!" Tim answered back.

He'd made friends, like the two sitting next to him, worked on projects, joined clubs, not the athletic ones of course, and was overall enjoying learning with the other students.

"Bro I can ask her for you if you want?" Devon shot back.

"Don't you dare!" Tim said and punched his friend in the shoulder.

"Guys enough! You're going to get us in trouble." Ryan intervened hoping to prevent incoming shoulder slap flight that was going to ensue and hopefully avoid any future detention.

"Fine…chill yo I was just joking!" Devon said as he and Tim bumped each other one more time. "Now back to Aamiina. Yo! She totally likes you!"

"While I don't think Sonja told him anything I do think Aamiina likes you." Tim interjected. "She only asks you for help in math class."

"See even Tim says so!" Devon jumps on with a smile. "You should ask her out now! Lock that down for the trip!"

Ryan felt conflicted.

Aamiina was certainly pretty, tall, athletic and popular. She wasn't a slacker in class either now that he thought about it all those times he helped her in math she likely didn't need help and was just doing it to talk to him.

All the signs were there, he had to admit it himself…it was just that his mind was on a different girl…Zoe.

That night has been…fun. More fun than he'd ever had with anyone else…a different kind of fun in more than one way.

He wasn't sure what he and Zoe were…if they were anything. They texted once in a while, funny things usually or sometimes asking about their day but they hadn't had a chance to see each other again.

She was busy with school and being the Vice-President's daughter and he was busy with his own school.

"Dude!" Devon nudged him. "You listening?"

Ryan looked at him slightly annoyed. "I'm not going to ask her now in front of the whole plane!" he said firmly.

"Why not? Imagine she says yes and then you switch seats and sit next to her. Oh yea! You'll have three more hours of private time. Mile high club!" Devon said with a lecherous smile.

"Like what? Idiot! How would that even work? Everyone around you can see you!" Tim said.

"Blanket duh! Cover up with a blanket and bam you finger bang her and no one can tell shit!"

"You're a moron and yes everyone will be able to see you!" Tim replied. "Where is she sitting anyway?"

"At the front by the door with Amber and Fatima." Devon said. "You know those front seats have a lot of space perfect for-" he didn't say it but made the motions with his hands and fingers as if he was jackhammering the air.

"Oh my god dude!" Tim said exasperated. "You need to sop that."

"Oh fuck yea Ryan solve that equation for me!" Devon said in a high-pitched voice slightly too loudly for comfort all the while his hand motions intensified.

"Stop!" Ryan whispered loudly said

"I'm gonna pretend I didn't see that." Tim said disgusted.

"Oh fuck yea your Math is so hard!"

"Stop it!"

"I think I'm getting an answer!" Devon continued in his bastardized high-pitched voice.

"Stop it!" Ryan said grabbing Devon's hand and slammed it on the arm rest, slightly more forcefully than intended.

"Chill dude! Just playing around!"

Before Ryan could respond Tim intervened.

"Shit! I think she heard us! Look she's standing up and looking this way."

All three boys held their breath for a moment as Aamiina looked around then moved out of her seat.

"Relax, she's just going to the washroom." Devon said as they saw Aamiina move into the washroom stall.

"Dude not fucking cool!" Ryan said forcefully again.

"Yea, can you like be quiet for at least an hour!" Tim said.

"Fine, fine, fine! I won't say a word I swear it!"

Ding!

The boys saw the seatbelt sign go on.

"This is your captain speaking, please take your seats, fasten your seatbelts and secure loose items. I have been informed that we will encounter slight turbulence for the next four to five minutes."

No sooner that they finished buckling up the first shake rattled the plane.

Then another and then another.

"Shit!" Tim slipped out loudly among the minor yelps and screams from their classmates.

Another shake smaller than the last three continued, then three more then silence.

It felt as if the whole plane held its breath for a moment but nothing else happened.

Chatter slowly filled the plane once more as Ryan saw the washroom stall open and Aamiina walk out looking spooked.

"Dam she was stuck in there, that was probably freaky as-" Devon started saying before they all felt their stomachs violently drop suddenly and the cabin shake again.

THUNK

BANG

CREAK

Screaming ensued.

Suddenly a rush of air from the back to the front happened.

"Aamiina!" Ryan heard above the ensuing chaos and immediately saw the girl get sucked out through the ripped door of the airplane.

"WHAT THE FUCK…FUCK..FUCK! We're all going to-" He heard Devon, Tim and the rest of the passengers scream as his world suddenly slowed down, electricity running up and down his spine.

He turned to see the frozen screaming faces of his friends, his supervision activated and suddenly they disappeared allowing him to see the nighttime sky.

Thump, Thump!

His heart beat pounded. Calmer than it should have been.

He concentrated further and found her, she was…floating?

Thump, Thump!

No she was falling! But she was alive! He could see it!

Thump!

He realized he needed to act, he needed to move, he could save her!

Thump!

The world moved back into speed.

"-DIE"

"I'M GOING AFTER HER!" He shouted loudly shocking the people around him.

"WHAT THE-" Devon started.

Ryan unbuckled his belt and disappeared in a blur out the door.

"-FUCK"

Scene Break

Date: July 2025 (Same evening)

Annie watched with surprised annoyance as John lazily floated of the bed to answer the ringing phone. It was somewhere on the floor in a pile of their clothes.

She hated this and she hated herself yet she couldn't stop herself.

Once had become twice then three then four and then it seemed every time they had one of their work sessions they also ended up having one of their sessions.

She hated this.

'Right? Then why can't I stop?' the voice whispered. 'Then why do I keep ending up here?'

It's not like he was forcing her or anything. So far everything had been…consensual, passionate even.

Hell, she'd been the one to initiate it more than enough times, so why couldn't she stop?

She's had her fill! So why did she keep coming back?

'Because he made you, he gets you…he's the only one…the only one you can relate.' The voice whispered again.

And she hated it.

She hated it because deep down it was the truth.

She was lonely.

There hadn't been anyone after Hughie. She couldn't exactly date or fuck anyone while being Homelander's girlfriend, 'America's Sweetheart'.

It would destroy everything she worked for, all the good she was doing, the power and influence she was wielding for good. It would all be diminished and fade.

There were no real friends she could confide into either.

Maeve was busy being a mother and mostly phoning it in. Dinah was the point person on Vought's war on drugs and just frankly she and her hadn't had the time to get that close together.

As for the rest of the team and other heroes well she wasn't exactly close in that way with them, even worse she was their boss while Ashley was her boss and frankly they just weren't that close.

Homelander was the only one the she could reasonably bitch to, the only one that was really at her level. He was a true partner both professionally and socially.

The fact was that together they were splitting seas and moving mountains at least on all the fronts that she wanted, things got done.

He was her lone stress relief and it seemed like she was also his.

It seemed to be the only time when she could unwind and simply be.

"Ryan? Slow down!" She heard him say alarmed.

"The what?...She's alive?...Fly to the nearest city take her to the hospital…Make sure to protect her from the cold…" She heard him continue.

She started to get dressed. It was obvious something was wrong.

"Yes…Yes…I'll check on the plane…don't worry you get her to safety first…keep her warm…ok I trust you! You did well! I love you bye!"

"What's wrong?" She asked.

"Ryan's plane hit turbulence and lost the door. A girl got sucked out but he managed fly and get her. She's alive but unconscious, possible concussion and hypothermia and oxygen deprivation. They are somewhere halfway over the Atlantic."

"Oh my god. And the plane?"

"I'll go check on it." He said and she saw him speedily change into his costume. "You contact Vought and get them on it."

"Wait!" She said suddenly. "I'll come with you!"

Homelander stared for a moment and sighed. "Fine."

"Power up to the fullest we're going to go faster than ever. We'll coordinate with Vought in flight."

"Got it!" She said strongly.

She knew it wasn't the same scenario and that Homelander wasn't quite the same but she couldn't help but have the images of the 'plane video' flashing in her mind.

No, not this time not on her watch. If anything were to go wrong she was sure she would be the only one that could stop him.

Scene Break.

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AN:

Maeve is starting to suspect things. A-Train is thinking about the future. Ryan is enjoying school and Starlight is starting to reconcile with her feelings.

Can you guess the company the built the plane? It's been in the news recently…ish.

Hmm an American industrial company with a history of launch capabilities and a troubled present…I wonder if this is the company Homelander hinted in the previous chapter ;).

More to come next time on Dragon Ball….!

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

Thank you for reading!