Summary: When his father decides to indulge his family in the court life of Kings Landing, Prince Robb Stark finds himself amongst all the liars and snakes that call it home. His only relief seems to come in the for Joanna, the caretaker of the King's children. AU

I DO NOT OWN GAME OF THRONES

"The pain is how you show your love for them for the first time." That's what Cersei's mother had told her all those years ago when she first asked about childbirth. "It tells everyone who would ever wish to harm them that you would go through hell to protect you child."

That's all Cersei could think about now as she clutched at her brother's stubby hand. Other than the foggy memory of her mother to give her comfort, Cersei had her younger brother, Tyrion. She could never stand the little beast- blaming them for her mother's death- but he was all she had at the moment. Jaime had been sent away to be a ward of the Tully's after their father made the discovery of Cersei's pregnancy and the man himself had no sympathy for his daughter. He had told her as such the moment she had gone into labor.

But she had Tyrion; as little as he was at only fourteen years old, she still had him. Jaime had made him promise to be there when the baby was born as he himself couldn't be.

"I don't think this is proper-" One of the only two nurses in room began as she looked to their clasped hands. Their father had wanted a few people to know about Cersei's pregnancy as possible. That was the reason he hadn't even allowed her a Maester.

"Shut it, you insufferable hag!" Cersei gritted out through her clinched teeth. The nurse looked affronted, but said nothing.

It took several hours of pain, but Cersei was finally rewarded with the sounds of her child's loud, upset cries as the pain between her legs dulled.

"It's a girl, m'lady," One of the nurses told her as the cord was cut and the babe was cleaned with a cloth- crying the entire time. Cersei's heart twisted; she had hoped for a girl. She knew that there was be a chance that her father would allow her to keep her child if it was a girl. It was a small chance, but it was still a better chance than before.

"Give her to me," Cersei ordered. Without her father there to dispute her orders, the babe was wrapped in a clean blanket and put into Cersei's arms.

"Do you have a name for her, m'lady?" The second nurse asked and Cersei barely heard the question, but she already had an answer.

"Joanna," She didn't notice the nurses leave- most likely to inform her father that she was no longer with child- but she did notice as her brother's small form began ambling towards the door. "Where are you going?"

"I thought I'd write a letter to Jaime," He told her. They could be civil for the small amount of time Cersei's bliss would allow. "I think I'll tell him about the new kitten in the kitchen. I think she'll be called Joanna." And with that, Tyrion left her alone with her child, closing the door as he left.

Unfortunately, she wasn't left alone for long.

When he father entered the room he didn't say anything, he simply stared at the bundle in Cersei's arms. She was afraid to say anything, but if there was a chance she'd be allowed to keep her child, she had to take it.

"Please," She begged weakly. "Don't take her from me." Tywin's face didn't change; not at his daughter's broken plea or even at the news that he had a granddaughter. "Please, father."

"You wed Robert Baratheon the moment he takes Kings Landing," He reminded her and her hope began to shatter. "The girl will be sent to be a ward of the Tyrell's."

"No..."

"The raven is soon to be sent to Lady Olenna," Her father said, fully ignoring her cries. "If I were you, I would not get attached." Then, with only one more fleeting look at his first grandchild, Tywin Lannister left his daughter crying over her child.