A Family of Four, Happy Together?

Maeve was stunned by the scene in front of her.

So this was a family of four, happy together?

The set had long since emptied out. In the break area, the little tables usually used for snacks and drinks had been pushed together to make a makeshift dining table.

Homelander, Ryan, Becca, and Billy Butcher were seated around it.

"I must be hallucinating."

"Maeve, come over here!"

Homelander suddenly called out to her.

She looked over and saw him waving her over, looking rather lonely.

"Oh... The little boy feels left out and is calling for Mommy now?"

As Maeve walked over, she heard Billy's snide remark and immediately grew more wary.

The catering staff had already left, and there was no one else around. If Homelander was pushed right in one of his most sensitive spots like that, the next thing would be a blast of Heat Vision...

But then, to her surprise, something else happened.

Homelander didn't get angry. Instead, he smiled warmly at her and said, "Maeve, you took care of those three supes who tried to attack Ryan and me. Even though this is a family dinner, I think you can join us too."

"After all, you're Ryan's combat instructor now."

"Combat instructor? Ryan, are you training to fight?"

Becca's voice rose sharply, as if she'd been triggered. "That's violence. You can't do that. You're not that kind of boy!"

"Mom..."

Ryan was just about to speak when Becca spun around and glared at Homelander. "You set this up, didn't you? You're trying to make this kid just like you!"

Homelander kept smiling. "He's Homelander's son."

Ryan raised an eyebrow and glanced at Homelander, wondering if he'd overdone it a bit. Had Homelander become Mr. Doesn't-Get-Angry?

"Mom!"

Before his mother could give voice to her fears again, Ryan raised his voice too. "I asked Maeve to teach me how to fight so I'd look good in the movie. It has nothing to do with Dad."

After a pause, he added, sounding tired and confused, "Why does everyone say I'm just like Dad, but also want me to be different from him?"

"It's so annoying! I don't understand what any of you mean. Can you please stop arguing? I just missed you, Mom. Let's have a nice dinner together."

At the words "nice dinner," everyone at the table, including Maeve, felt an absurdity rise within them.

Have a nice dinner with Homelander?

Billy and Becca looked at each other and managed a strained smile.

Have a nice dinner with Homelander, his son's biological mother, and her original husband?

Maeve looked at Ryan with admiration.

Kid, I have no idea how your family ended up like this, but I really wish I could be as naive as you.

Maeve stayed quiet, determined not to get involved in this dinner.

Homelander picked up a pastry. "Son, we're having a great time. Here, try this flaky cake. It has a rich cream flavor. You'll like it."

A warm family dinner had come to an end, leaving everyone on The Boys except Billy and Becca on edge.

As Becca looked back again and again, they all climbed into the cars they'd arrived in.

The car sped off, with Mother's Milk practically flooring the gas pedal.

They didn't slow down until they were well outside the city, when they pulled into a gas station.

"Are we... alive?"

"Yeah, Hughie. We survived Homelander dropping out of nowhere. I told you we should've gotten out of there."

Mother's Milk was angry. "Billy, you know I have a daughter waiting for me to come home once I get this mess sorted out. We could've done this another time—"

"Mother's Milk, are you thirsty? Come on, let's grab some beer at the convenience store."

Hughie suddenly cut him off, then turned to Kimiko, who had extraordinary Self-Healing abilities and had recovered from the damage caused by that unknown gas.

"How are you feeling? Want a cold beer?"

Kimiko, who couldn't speak, nodded.

Frenchie, who had been staying by her side the whole time, grinned and nodded too. "Sure, let's get some beer. Billy, Becca, do you want any?"

Hughie slapped a hand to his forehead.

He'd never realized Frenchie could be so oblivious. He grabbed him and tugged him out. "Come on, we'll bring some back for Billy and Becca."

"But seriously, guys, don't you think Homelander seemed a little off this time?"

"When has he ever been normal..."

Hughie and the others' voices faded as they walked away, then were completely muffled once they entered the convenience store.

The spacious car cabin fell quiet.

Billy saw his wife still lost in thought and put an arm around her. "Don't think about it, Becca. Ryan's doing fine now."

"He doesn't want to leave with me."

Becca clutched Billy's arm. "Homelander has changed Ryan. The thing I've always feared has happened."

"Billy, didn't you see?"

"When Ryan flew down with Homelander, those three supes Maeve and the others killed were lying in pools of blood! But when Ryan saw them, he wasn't scared or surprised at all!"

Billy frowned, then quickly smoothed his expression. "That was a film set. Maybe Ryan thought they were—"

Becca shook her head. "You're lying. I know you, Billy."

She stared at her husband. "From the start, you only wanted to take me away. You were actually happy with Ryan's choice that night, weren't you?"

"I..."

Billy had no answer.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, he said urgently, "Ryan asked us at dinner to have a child, didn't he?"

"We can do that, Becca. Get away from all this and start over."

Becca felt a sadness she couldn't put into words and couldn't help embracing her husband. "A child... I owe you that."

"But Billy, Ryan is my child too. I can't have another one and pretend nothing happened when I haven't even taken care of him."

Billy deflated, but forced himself to pat her shoulder. "Then let's take care of him. We'll think of a way to help him see Homelander for who he really is."

"It won't work!"

Becca pulled away from Billy's embrace and sat up. "Homelander puts on a good act. You provoked him like that at dinner, but he still wouldn't lose his temper in front of Ryan."

"He's holding back. I could see it!"

Becca became even more convinced of her theory. "Homelander is deceiving Ryan with that act, and my foolish boy believes every word."

With that, she took out her phone, her expression resolute.

Billy hurriedly asked, "Becca, what are you doing?"

Becca dialed a number she knew by heart, one she'd thought she would never call.

Before the call connected, she told Billy, "I'm out of options, Billy. But I know someone who can help, if he agrees to our deal."

"What deal?"

"We'll trade what we found out about Stormfront being Liberty, and a Nazi, for his help."

Billy frowned. "That's how we weaken Vought—"

"Stormfront is dead!"

Becca stated firmly, "Homelander won't let her get away with it. She hurt Ryan."

Billy thought of the wounds on Ryan's face and body, considered it for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

"Fine. I'll tell the others."

Becca's face brightened. Without another word, she dialed the number she'd already entered.

The phone rang for a short while before someone answered.

A voice came through the phone. "This is Stan Edgar. Who is this? How did you get this number?"