Chapter 18: The Confrontation

Author POV: Thank you for contributing Powerstones.I really appreciate your contributions. To show appreciation I'm adding this chapter for the day.

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The moment hung heavy in the air, the tension palpable as Butcher held Becca in his arms. Suddenly, the quiet was broken by the sound of small footsteps. A boy appeared in the doorway, blinking in confusion. "Mom?" he called out, his voice filled with the innocent curiosity of a child.

Butcher's body went rigid. He pulled back from Becca slightly, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the boy, then back at Becca. "Becca...who is that?" he asked, his voice rough and edged with disbelief. The question seemed to hang between them, heavy and urgent. "Did he just call you Mom?"

Becca's face went pale, and for a moment, she seemed lost for words. Butcher's frown deepened, the confusion in his eyes replaced with emotions that threatened to break. "I'm asking you a question, Becca," he said, his voice rising. "Answer me."

Becca took a breath, her eyes flicking to Ryan, who was looking at them with wide, anxious eyes. She bit her lip, struggling to find the right words. "Yes," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. "That's my son."

Butcher stumbled back a step as if he'd been struck. His mind raced, piecing together the implications of her words. His knees suddenly felt weak, and he sank to the ground, looking almost lifeless as he processed what she'd said. His heart pounded in his chest, and a thin sliver of hope flickered in his eyes as he looked up at Becca again. "Is he...is he my son?" Butcher's voice was strained, almost pleading.

Becca's face crumpled with emotion, her lips trembling as she tried to speak. "He...he's not your son, Billy." She hesitated, tears spilling down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry... It's... it's..."

Butcher's face twisted with rage and hurt. "Whose son is that?" he demanded, his voice rising again, filled with a mixture of pain and fury.

Becca broke down, her body shaking with sobs as she forced the words out. "He's...he's Homelander's son," she confessed, her voice breaking. "Billy, Homelander...he raped me. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

The words hit Butcher like a physical blow. He sat there on the ground, his face pale and his eyes wide with shock and betrayal. The world seemed to spin around him, and he felt like he might be sick. His breath came in short, ragged gasps, and for a moment, he thought he might pass out. He wasn't expecting his archenemy to hand him a green hat (1).

Meanwhile, Marcus stood off to the side, his expression a mask of cold detachment. He watched the scene unfold with a strange mix of interest and indifference, knowing full well the chaos that would soon follow. He had anticipated this confrontation, even if it was coming sooner than he might have liked. But time was ticking, and he knew Vought's watchful eyes would not remain oblivious for long.

Butcher's anger flared again, burning away the shock. He got to his feet and started walking towards Becca and Ryan, his eyes dark with rage as he stared at Becca and then at Ryan, who was now hiding behind his mother, scared and confused. Becca took a step back, holding Ryan protectively, fearing what Butcher might do.

But instead of lashing out, Butcher surprised her. He stepped forward, his expression softening as he looked at her with something like regret in his eyes. He gently reached out and touched her hair, a surprisingly tender gesture. "I'm sorry, Becca," he said quietly. "I left you. I was a bloody fool, a right bastard. But not anymore." His voice grew firmer, filled with a dark promise. "I'll make Homelander pay for what he did to you, by any means possible. That, I swear."

Becca stared at him, her eyes searching his face for any hint of the man she'd once known. Finally, she nodded, tears still streaming down her face. Butcher glanced back at Marcus, who had been watching with a dispassionate gaze. "Let's go inside, Becca," Butcher said, his voice gentler now. "We have a lot to talk about. It's been years since you went missing."

Becca hesitated for a moment, then nodded again and led the way inside. Ryan clung to her side, still eyeing Butcher warily. As they entered the small, modest house, Butcher glanced around, taking in the simple furnishings and the quiet, almost somber atmosphere. Marcus followed them in, his expression unreadable as he closed the door behind him.

Meanwhile, across town, Hughie Campbell sat on a bench in a quiet park, his phone pressed to his ear. The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the park, and the distant sounds of children playing could be heard. But Hughie's mind was elsewhere, focused on the voice on the other end of the line.

"Yeah, Dad, I'm fine," Hughie said, trying to sound more confident than he felt. "Just… you know, a lot going on right now."

His father's voice crackled through the phone, filled with concern. "You sure you're okay, son? You've been through a lot lately. Maybe it's time to come home, take a break."

Hughie shook his head, even though his father couldn't see him. "I can't, Dad. There's too much at stake. I… I can't just walk away from this. Afternoon my girlfriend passed away."

There was a long pause on the other end of the line before his father finally spoke. "I know, son. Just… be careful, alright? I don't want to lose you."

Hughie felt a lump form in his throat, but he forced a smile. "I'll be careful, Dad. I promise."

As he hung up the phone, Hughie sighed and leaned back on the bench, staring up at the sky, his mind was racing with everything that had happened. Translucent had been killed by them, Vought was on high alert, lookin' for them.

As Hughie sat there, lost in thought, he couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to get even more complicated. The world was changing, and not necessarily for the better.

Back at the cabin, Marcus, Butcher, Becca, and Ryan finished their meal prepared by Becca, the tension in the room easing slightly as they enjoyed the simple pleasure of being together. It was a small moment of normalcy, something they all desperately needed.

After eating, Marcus suggested taking Ryan outside for some fresh air, giving Butcher and Becca a chance to talk alone. The boy agreed, and the two of them headed out to the garden, leaving Butcher and Becca to catch up.

As they sat together on the sofa, Butcher took Becca's hand in his, his expression softening as he looked at her. "I never thought I'd see ya again," he admitted, his voice thick with emotion.

Becca smiled, though her eyes were filled with sadness. "Neither did I. But here we are."

"Aye," Butcher said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Here we are."

The two of them sat in silence for a moment, just enjoying the simple pleasure of being close to each other again. They had both been through so much, and there was still so much more to face. But for now, in this moment, they could pretend that everything was okay.

(1)Hand him a green hat- to be cuckold