Woosh . Ting, ting .

The door had opened allowing the crisp, morning breeze to edge its way into the tiny pet shop. Swirls of dander and dust mites gathered into the stale air before finding their home on the carpeted floor once more. Dany glanced up from the label of Tyrell's Best Aged One to Seven Dry Feline Cuisine , curious as to the disturbance. It was early morning on a Friday in King's Landing. Everyone was either working - those poor stiffs - or like her, preparing to leave town on a beach holiday. Spring had just bloomed and everyone was aching to get away from the stuffy city - her especially.

Except, now, holiday was the last thing on her mind as she sized up the gentleman that walked through the door. He wouldn't have normally stuck out to her, with his everyman black suit, his rather average stature, and his moody demeanor; but, something sparked within her when he found her eyes. Maybe he felt it to - he was headed her way!

She released a small breath and replaced the cat food on the shelf, straightening it with more intent than necessary. There was no way he would judge her as a lonesome cat lady.

"Excuse me Miss."

His rumbly northern accent was startling. Turning to him she lost her words. He was not as everymanas she had thought. She was struck immediately by his physique. A quick sweep of her eyes and she caught the taut muscles hiding beneath his sleeves, the springy dark curls held fast, and the stormy gray eyes reflecting back at her. Gods she could get lost in -

"Miss?"

"Hm...Oh! Yes?"

He had held her gaze so well, she had almost forgotten that he had spoken. Hopefully her cheeks weren't tinged, for she felt thoroughly vexed. She could tell he found her embarrassment quite amusing by the Cheshire grin he had the nerve to throw her way. With a cough to straighten himself out he continued.

"I'm here to pick up my order. The Ridiginous dragon pair."

"What?" He thought she was a shop girl!

"The Ridiginous Redback dragons? From the Drogon lineage? Someone from the shop told me they were ready to pick up."

"Ah! Yes. May I have the name on the order?" Well if two could play that game. If he wanted a shop girl then that is what he would have.

"Stark. Jon Stark. Miss…?" She weighed whether or not she should give him her real name but figured she could keep their ruse going a little while longer.

"Storm." It wasn't completely, a lie. It had been her mother's maiden name.

"Miss Storm."

"Well then, Mr. Stark, right this way."

She'd been in the store a few times purchasing the usual this and that for her cat, but was quite unfamiliar with dragons or, consequently, their location within the shop. And so they both arrived, after several minutes, in front of a cage of a pair of twin black and red dragons. He stood for several moments, staring at them with one arm across his chest and the other resting on it, fist to chin. His brows were furrowed and his very full lips-not that she noticed-were twisted into a half smile, half frown. A very curious look. He was obviously very deep in thought. But what was there to think about? He had ordered them.

"Well Mr. Stark? What do you think," she asked placing her hands on her hips angling her body to him.

"Gorgeous. They are, um, gorgeous…"

"But…?"

He turned to face her full on then. He seemed to appraise her and she couldn't help but blush. There was a heat rising in her that she hadn't dared to feel in a long time.

"But, I was hoping you, Miss Storm, could tell me more about them. Their habits, what they like to eat, what they like to do, you know the general conservancy of this rare breed."

"Well…" she began as she grasped for her feeble lessons on the wild creatures at the Queensland Academy.

Surely, he must know a thing or two about them. Of course, he does! He must! But I certainly won't be the first one to blink!

"Of course. Well Mr. Stark, these are very rare indeed. Carnivorous, a diet high in protein is recommended."

"Mhmm. I see."

"See there," she pointed towards the one on the right. "That is the female, and that," she pointed toward the other bird which happened to be in the direction of dear Mr. Stark, "is the male. If you don't separate them quickly Mr. Stark, I dare say, she might eat her mate. She can get annoyed with him after a time, so it's best to separate them, at least until the male is mature enough to appreciate her."

He stared at her wickedly then, eyes lit with fire as his teeth took in his bottom lip. He moved closer to her. She could smell his earthly musk. Fresh pine, coffee grinds, and salt from the sea.

"Surely, Miss Storm, there is something he can do to get in her good graces," a plea etched in his voice. She had him right where she wanted him. She dusted innocently at a piece of lint on the front of her blouse, patting several times.

"Well, Mr. Stark, there is…"

"Jon." Dany rounded and saw her normal shop girl heading towards them.

"Margaery." His face had lit up from the dreary disposition she had first seen. Obviously, he had an inclination towards this woman. She flushed at the thought. "How are you darling," he asked bringing her into a very friendly embrace, and pecking her on her cheek.

"I'm doing wonderful," the young woman responded. She finally turned to acknowledge Dany. "Dany, nice to see you. How is Mr. Paw?"

If she could crawl under a rock she would.

"Lovely," she replied tightly with a smile that hurt her cheeks.

"I didn't know you knew each other."

"Dany and I are acquainted well enough," he looked to her, a devil in his eyes. "We were talking about the Alpine Rose pair," he turned to Margaery before nodding to the dragons.

"Ah, yes. Our newest addition." Margaery reached a hand to stroke the creature. It sank into the curve of her hand and purred deeply. "They are quite gorgeous aren't they."

"Alpine Rose?" I thought ...

"Yes. The two male dragons we were discussing," he responded rather cheekily. He found her eyes again and she squinted at him relentlessly. What a dirty trick! Lucky for him dragons don't breathe fire anymore. She'd never been so angry but before she could respond, Margaery turned to him again.

"Oh Jon, I know grandmama called you to pick up the Redbacks, but they are running late. They're not coming in until around noon. I'm so sorry, please don't be mad at me. I know you were expecting them."

"Marge, I could never be mad at you." Marge .

"Well if you can't pick them up a little later, I can have a messenger drop them off in White Harbor but it won't be until Monday."

"Oh, Marge. Arya's birthday is tomorrow. I wanted to unveil them at her party. And I'm driving the coast to White Harbor in an hour."

"I'm so sorry, Jonny. It's the thought that counts. She may be only twelve but your sister is sharp and she'll understand. And she loves you. Look, I'll call the messenger now and see if he could get there earlier and give you a call later."

He looked so heartbroken she almost forgot how mad she was. His shoulders sagged a bit and a little light left his eyes but he nodded and she walked to the back office. He seemed to remember himself and his company.

"Well, Miss Storm. Sorry for the tease," a note of apology in his voice as a small smile shadowed his face.

"It's quite alright Mr. Stark. I'd say we're about square." She returned the smile as best she could, but she could tell he was still in a bad way. She took a breath and prepared to offer to cook him dinner some time, that might cheer him up. However, his voice broke through the silence first.

"Right, well, I've got a drive to get to," a note of apology in his voice.

"Sure, I understand. It was a pleasure."

"No, Miss Storm, it was mine," and with that he dipped his head and left the storm with the same woosh and ting .

It was minutes before she realized that she hadn't moved from in front of the Alpine Roses. Her feet stuck like glue to the floor, her heartbeat fluttering. She slowly came out of her stupor and attempted to shrug off her interaction with the mysterious Jon Stark. He hadn't asked after her, so maybe that was that. She made her way back to Tyrell's Bestand headed to Margaery for check out. Margaery passed her the receipt but she had been distracted thinking about how distraught Jon had been over his sister. And she was certain the poor girl would be without a truly wonderful gift, from her big brother no less, because this unfortunate circumstance. She understood just how important a big brother, little sister relationship was. She had a big brother of her own. And there was nothing Rhae wouldn't do for her. But what could be done. She thought for a moment before the perfect idea popped into her head.

"Say Margaery. How about I stop in later and grab the Redbacks for Jon ? I can drop them at White Harbor on my way out of town for the weekend. I'm sure Arya," she'd hoped that she pronounced the girl's name correctly, "would appreciate it."

"What a wonderful idea, Dany. If it's not out of the way," Margaery gave her a pensive look.

"Not it's no trouble at all. I'll just stop back by after I've left Mr. Paw with mother and head back here."

"Well then. I will have them all packaged up and ready to go."

"Thanks Margaery, you're a dear. What do you say this be a little surprise?" She didn't want him to think she was stalking him, when really she simply wanted to do a good deed.

"It wouldn't be the wildest thing a girl has done to try to get his attention, I'm sure," Margaery teased giving her a little wink.

"None of that. Just a favor for a friend."

"We'll see."