Winterfell Solstice

He was no longer the Lord Commander of the Night Watch as he ran at the girl, before anyone else could react. He was that sixteen year old boy again who had left Winterfell and its people to join the Night's Watch, as he lifted Arya into a hug, and she was once again that ten year old who had said goodbye to him after he had given her Needle.

Author's Note: Hello all! Firstly I know I'm a month late and even then this one shot will at least be two chapters. On the other hand, if you're still in the Christmas/New Year spirit or want to see a Stark reunion, here's to you! This is a fluffier take on Game of Thrones/A Song of Ice and Fire in an Alternative Universe in Modern Day.

So, Jon is driving Gared, Alys and Shireen back from the Wall to Winterfell for Christmas for a reunion he will never forget. Home is full of surprises- everyone's alive and ready to groove!

Rated T for mentions of abuse. death and violence. Let me know what you think. There's a tribute here to Madiella if she's reading this; if any of you have time feel free to check out some of her fics. She specialises in Modern Day Shakespeare fics, although I think her best fic is RA- sort of a historical and supernatural mystery about the Richard III and the Princes in the Tower. :)

Pairings: Jon/Shireen (implied), Eddard/Catelyn, Robb/Jeyne Westerling, Rodrik/Elaena, Bran/Meera (implied).

Any guesses on how a certain character is able to drive? ;)

CHAPTER 1

"Hey, this is your song!" Alys laughed. "Gared, turn it up!" Gared gave an awkward bemused look and turned up the radio on Jon's car.

"Oh dear Lord," Shireen, who was sat next to Alys in the back seat, whispered, going red in the face, recalling the terror at that she was running from at Castle Black. She had got up one morning and put on the radio, while brushing her teeth, she had decided to mime a dance to Slade's Merry Christmas Everybody, before realising that Sergeant Edd Tollett had seen her and decided to quietly show the whole garrison the dance. It was the sort of awkward dance you do when you are sure nobody can see you, the sort of dance that involves jumping and skipping to the side and overdramatic arm swinging and jazz hands. Shireen had accompanied her dad on business, mainly to write a dissertation for her History and Politics course. She did not expect to be so humiliated and remembered as the girl who danced like a prat in front of the whole of the Night's Watch Regiment. This was one of the reasons why she had insisted on not traveling with her dad, because she felt too embarrassed to look him in the eye.

"Are you hanging up the stocking on the wall? It's that time when every Santa has a ball!" the radio sang.

"Be quiet, Alys!" Jon snapped. "I need to focus on the road."

"Jon, it's a clear road, there's nothing!" Gared grinned.

"There could be black ice," Jon said quickly. "Quiet, I need to concentrate and get you lot home safely."

"What he means is not to be mean to his girlfriend!" Alys blurted.

"She's not my girlfriend!" Jon snapped.

"He's….. not my boyfriend," Shireen said sternly, feeling queasy all of a sudden. Back at Castle Black, despite being only 22 years old, he had been elected Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, akin to a Captain of the Regiment. When he had found out what was happening, he had used the same voice he had used to discipline Sergeant Janos Slynt a few months ago for disobeying a direct order. That voice demanded that everyone stop filming on their camera phones and hand them in for checking to see if all videos had been deleted. Shireen couldn't help but admit that that low voice really touched her heart and gave her butterflies. She had a few times knocked on the Lord Commander's door and asked him a hundred annoying questions and given answers to half of them, until after a few times she was told by her mum to not burden the Lord Commander to his duties.

"Alys, go easy on the wine tonight," Jon deflected with a grin. "We don't want any more fire tricks, Lady Catelyn does not like surprises, so let's not get remembered for the wrong reasons."

"Ew, I'm Lord Snow and I'm a smart-panty badass!" Alys mimicked, which made everyone laugh.

"It's good to see you laugh every now and then, Jon," Gared admitted.

"Shall we check on Sansa?" Shireen said suddenly.

Jon grunted a nod. "Have you got her number?"

"No, but she's with Mira," Gared said, taking out his phone and dialing Mira. The ring sounded for a few seconds before it was answered.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Mira, it's me Gared!"

"Hi, Gared, we've just passed Moat Cailin," Mira answered.

"Gared, put us on loud speaker," Jon ordered as if he was still on duty. "Hello, Mira, this is Lord Commander Jon Snow of the Night's Watch; is Sansa Stark with you?"

"I'm here, Jon, no need for such formality!" Sansa scoffed.

"Typical teenager," Alys whispered to Gared and Shireen who giggled.

"Who's we?" Jon demanded.

"My friends," Sansa replied.

"What are their names?" Jon probed.

"There's Mira, and some others."

"Who are the others?"

"Relax, Lord Snow!" the voice of Tyrion Lannister exclaimed. "It's just me and Podrick with them!"

"Tyrion!" Jon beamed suddenly.

"How are you, my friend?" Tyrion asked. "I hear someone was made Lord Commander, I'm genuinely proud of you, I knew you had it in you, you know."

"Thank you, Lord Lannister," Jon mumbled.

"Stop being so formal and uptight, you're not on duty!" Tyrion scolded lightheartedly. "It's Christmas, put the black cloak away for a few days. Put your windows down, smell the country air!"

"Yeah and freeze to death!" Gared remarked.

"So, who's actually doing the driving?" Alys asked devilishly, glancing at Shireen and winking.

It's got to be Podrick, or Mira if she's learned to drive.

"Pod drove until the Green Fork, now it's me," Tyrion said holding back laughter.

"You're kidding me!" Gared jumped up in his seat and would have probably hit the roof of Jon's Micra if the seatbelt wasn't restraining him. "You're telling me some drunk guy passed Tyrion Lannister and gave him a driving licence? Some guy allowed Tyrion to drive on our roads and drive a car with other….. people inside?"

Shireen could see Alys in silent hysterics at Gared's surprise, the giggling of Sansa and Mira could be heard over the loudspeaker, which was eventually followed by another man's laughter.

"Actually it was a girl, Maddy her name was," Tyrion retorted. "Call me Madd, she said. Some people think she must have been passing me."

"Are you serious?" Shireen grinned, her eyes caught Jon's in the main mirror of the car, who for a moment looked right back at her. She beamed even more seeing that twinkle in his dark grey eyes, where Lord Commander Snow had hung up his cloak and it was just Jon smiling at her. He quickly looked back towards the road.

"Yeah, Tyrion drove me and my uncle Benjen into Castle Black on my first day there, I thought I would have a heart attack," Jon shared.

"But… how?" Gared asked excitedly, making strange gestures with his hands.

"I'm sat on Podrick's lap," Tyrion said almost seriously. An awkward pause followed, then another round of laughter from both cars, as Podrick protested: "M'lord!"

"Oh, Gared Tuttle, I promise I will show you how it's done when we get to Winterfell," Tyrion promised. "Now, you make sure you and your passengers get home safely, and I'll do the same, Jon."

"All right, Tyrion, see you there," Jon responded happily, yet calmly.

"Bye guys!" Mira, Gared, Sansa and Alys said.

"Bye," Shireen said softly. "You're full of surprises, Jon Snow!" she smiled after they had hung up.

"Well, he came with us to Castle Black when I first started," Jon reminisced, he stopped to think his next words. "He gave me encouragement in a way I didn't think possible."

"Sounds like an awesome friend, Snow," Alys said, unusually quiet. "Seriously, thanks for inviting me to along to your folks, are you sure they won't mind?"

"They'll be fine, trust me," Jon assured. "Look at that rookery in the distance!" They all edged forwards in their seat and consumed the scenery. There was a huge clock tower in the distance, next to a grey-blue dome, with a turret pointing into the northern hemisphere. Dancing in the cold wind was a banner of a grey wolf on white snow. The stars sang and glowed in the night sky, almost like a choir welcoming the travellers.

Jon turned down the volume of the radio, so the car was in absolute silence as they took in the manor of Winterfell.

"Welcome home," Shireen said to Jon, who gave a brief nod.

Ahead another car also pulled up opposite Jon and beeped the horn; the driver was man with a small brown beard and long hair to his neck, but the person who caught Jon's eye was the auburn haired man in the passenger seat.

The two cars pulled in through the gate of Winterfell Manor and were greeted by an old man with white whiskers, a huge grin shot across his face when he saw the cars and the drivers.

"Rodrik!" Gared said, jumping out of the car, to the confusion of the older man. The younger bearded man, however, dived out to hug Gared.

"Glad to see you again, mate!" Rodrik Forrester said. "Who are your friends?"

"This is Lord Commander Jon Snow, Alys Karstark and Shireen Baratheon," Gared introduced.

"Hello Stark," Jon teased, before hugging Robb and then greeting Ser Rodrik Cassel. The giddines inside Jon urged him to remark that Rodrik Cassel had put on weight, but he relented for the sake of his dignity and body- the man before him was a retired tae kwondo champion.

"Evening to you, Snow- Lord Commander Snow, I mean, congratulations!" Robb commented. "Alys, nice to see you again; nice to meet you two!" the auburn head said to Gared and Shireen.

"Gared!" a light brown haired girl around Shireen's age jumped from the back of Rodrik's five seater. "I've missed you!"

"I've missed you too, Talia!" Gared exclaimed, pulling her into a hug. "I've kept the necklace you gave me on the day I left." He pulled out a small but intricately carved tree on a piece of wood, that was tied to a string. "Kept it for good fortune, it's got me back safe."

"This is my sister, Talia," Rodrik explained. "My wife, Elaena," he motioned to a tall dark haired woman, who waived at them all.

"Elaena, you've grown since last time we met!" Gared said.

"I know, it seems like a life time ago, when we were kids playing hide and seek into the hours of the evening in the Grove. Do you still sing, Gared? Because I hear you're doing a duet with Talia tonight?"

Gared's face turned pale. "I am?" He gave a nervous laugh before shooting Talia a confused look.

"Don't worry, it will be fine!" Talia assured. "It's one you've done many times."

"Yes, but that was before I was a brother of the Night's-"

"It's OK, Lord Commander's giving you permission to let your hair down," Jon smirked.

"Can I punch you, if we're off duty, is that allowed?" Gared joked.

"Leave him alone or you will taste my fury!" Shireen half jested, placing a hand on her hips and her knuckle on Gared's shoulder, prompting everyone to laugh.

"And last but not least, Jeyne, my wife," Robb introduced.

"Call me, Jenna," a chestnut haired girl said, climbing from the car. "Robb has told me a lot about you, Jon, I can tell he's not the only one who thinks you're wonderful."

Jon felt his ears turn red and he was reduced to stupidly nodding.

He was saved from further embarrassment when another car pulled into the manor, that was booming loud music.

Tyrion Lannister was seated in the front seat, Jon saw Gared trying to discretely peer in and see how he was driving. The dwarf parked his car, the doors opened for Sansa and a dark haired girl sat next to her, who Jon worked out was Mira Forrester. Next to Tytion sat a stocky guy with dark hair, who was introduced as Podrick Payne.

"Jon?" a voice called into the night, it was a fairly quiet voice but Jon heard it loud and clear. The Lord Commander turned around to locate the source and even though he knew who it belonged to, his heart stopped in his chest. She was taller and older than he had last seen her all those years ago, but her brown hair was plaited in that exact same hairstyle on that innocent and cheeky face, as those grey eyes started to water and look at him.

"Arya…." he said before losing all decorum. He was no longer the Lord Commander of the Night Watch as he ran at the girl, before anyone else could react. He was that sixteen year old boy again who had left Winterfell and its people to join the Night's Watch, as he lifted Arya into a hug, and she was once again that ten year old who had said goodbye to him after he had given her Needle. She was still as petite as Jon remembered as she sobbed into his shoulder. He realised that he too was crying, that's right the Lord Commander was weeping because of a sixteen year old girl. In that moment, part of him wished he had never left Winterfell, never left his family, his friends, his brothers and sisters, especially the one he was hugging right now.

"Bring her home Mance… you owe me this one little girl," a voice echoed in his head.

He pulled back and wiped his eyes. But she's no longer a little girl, not anymore.

A childlike urge crept through him; he muzzed her hair, despite the intricate long plait that it was tied in and kissed her forehead. "Hey there, little sister, did you miss me?"

"Shut up!" Arya said tearfully, punching him lightly on the shoulder, before hugging him again.

"Woah, nepotism!" Robb complained, with his arms outstretched.

"Fine, you shut up, as well!" Arya laughed, punching him too. "Stark group hug!" she called, as the four of them huddled together under the cold night sky, although Sansa was a little hesitant.

"This is definitely going on YouTube," Alys said, ending her filming on her smartphone. "Don't you agree?" she winked at Shireen.

"Leave them alone," she said.

"I'm not saying there's anything wrong with it, there's no love like Stark love!" Alys replied giddily.

"Jon, guess what?" Arya beamed excitedly.

"What?"

"You know the North Consty?"

"Constabulary," Sansa corrected.

"Yeah?"

"Whatever," Arya scoffed. "They're letting me shadow them over the summer!"

"That's amazing!" Jon said, filled with pride and a little sadness that she was growing up so fast. Last time he saw her, she was reaching his chest and now his little sister was going to be a copper and he couldn't see her doing anything else.

"I hate to be the one to cut short the reunion, but your parents are inside and would like to see you as soon as possible, please," Rodrik Cassel said, clearing his throat.

"There's one more car arriving, they should be here by now," Shireen said worriedly.

"I'm sure they'll arrive soon enough and I'll direct them," the warden assured. "Now, inside all of you!"

They all journeyed into the Great Hall, and were greeted by a hearth that beconed them, their footsteps echoed on the wooden floor, as if it understood the melody of weary travellers. There were paintings and decorations on the top of the walls, a few sofas lounged near the fireplace and a huge dining table was laid out for them.

"So, you managed to find your way back, then?" a deep yet warm voice called. The man wore a dark green jumper, shirt and tie and had his shoulder length brown hair tied back in a ponytail. He had a quiet yet inspiring aura about him, though you couldn't at first work out why it was, maybe it was the twinkle in his grey eyes that spoke much louder than his rogue facial hair or mop on his head.

"Hello, Dad," Robb said, as Eddard Stark pulled him, Sansa and Jon into a hug.

"It feels….. good to see you," Jon croaked, he couldn't work out why he was welling up, he was a grown man, not a child coming back from nursery school. "How are you?"

"Never better," Ned Stark answered. "I know it goes without saying, but I, no we are very proud of what you've been doing, all of you; Arya stayed up the whole night waiting for you…. Sansa, love, what's wrong?"

Out in the courtyard Sansa had been almost embarrassed at their group hug, but was now blubbering into her dad's arms. "I'm… sorry… I am so so sorry…..."

"Whatever for lass?" Ned asked, touching her cheek and wiping her tears.

"I….. don't know…. For leaving?"

"It's all right, today is not day for holding grudges or hatred, today is a day for all of us, OK?" Ned assured, before stepping back and smiling at everyone else after Sansa had pulled herself together.

"You must be… Shireen, I hear you're a history and politics student?" he asked, surprising the Baratheon girl. He then went around indicating at the various guests. "Gared Tuttle of Ironrath- tell your uncle he shoots the bow very well; Rodrik Forrester, I hope Robb isn't working you too hard in the Riverlands; Alys, welcome back, is your family not coming?"

Alys shook her head slowly with an unusual reservation.

"Well, you are more than welcome to join our table, Alys," he promised.

"Thank you, Lord Stark," she whispered.

"Call me, Ned, or Uncle Ned, as you once did," the Stark grinned, causing the girl to blush. He decided to move on before causing any more embarrassment. "You must be Mira Forrester, Elaena Glenmore…..." he struggled at the youngest of the Forrester sisters.

"Talia," she offered.

"Ah, Talia Forrester, pleased to meet you at last! Of course, we have Tyrion Lannister and you sir are?"

"Podrick Payne," Tyrion answered for him. "Distant blood relations are the only thing he shares with Ilyn, none of his nature and mannerisms."

"I know," Ned smiled, to the surprise of them all, before glancing over to Mira and Sansa.

"It's great to see you again, Jenna," he continued to the chestnut haired girl. "Is your arm all right?" he probed with concern, as it appeared her arm was in a woolen sling. "Shall we get Dr Luwin to take a look?"

"Oh no, it's fine, thanks, fabulous!" Jenna said, a little too excitedly, making everyone suspect she was tipsy. "Actually, we have a present for you, Ned."

"You do? Is it something I can eat? Is it chocolate- quickly give it before my wife sees!" her father-in-law jested, while she and Robb shared a bemused look, especially as Robb started turning red.

"Dad, where are the others, out of interest?" Robb asked.

As if on cue, through a door at the side of the hall came Catelyn Stark, followed by a young man in a wheelchair- Bran, next to him was Meera Reed. Her brother Jojen came after carrying some speakers and equipment with a red haired man: Uncle Edmure Tully, Catelyn's brother; bringing in the last bit of the equipment were a muscular black haired youth with the Baratheon blue eyes and Jory Cassel, who insisted he be called D J Cass for the night, clearly falling back to his youth days rather than the head of security as he normally was. Everyone exchanged casual greetings, before Catelyn and a young attractive brown haired woman wheeled in a trolley with chicken drumsticks, halloumi bites and scampi, inviting all to take a bite.

Jon smiled, as Rodrik Forrester knelt down to Bran's level and promised that he had a present for him, something that helped him when he needed it. "I hope it helps you too, in a strange way, the ladies will love it," the Forrester winked. Jon couldn't help but grin inside as he saw Meera Reed bite her bottom lip at that, she had been glancing at Bran protectively but almost discreetly, as if trying to watch over him like a bodyguard without interfering with his show business interviews and public relations.

"Or lady," Rodrik corrected quickly.

"Is the food to your liking?" a voice startled Jon. To his shock and horror, Catelyn was stood next to him with a glass of bubbly.

"The food is very good, ma'am," Jon replied coolly, bracing himself for the insult. He had dealt with much worse than Catelyn Stark, he had been shot at while North of the Wall, almost freezing to death, he had been a prisoner of war, living with the fear of being gutted or boiled alive. She was nothing compared to what he had endured, he remembered her last words to him before he left, when she had wished it was Jon, rather than Bran, who had fallen from the tower and been maimed. He had to resist the urge to tell her that he didn't care what she thought any more. But the truth of the matter was, his father loved this woman, and he had said that today was not a day for grudges and hatred. What Jon had felt when he saw Ned today was something he could not explain, as if part of him had died and come back to life. So if it meant he had to be civil with Catelyn for Ned's sake, he would.

Catelyn looked to her feet and then back at Jon. "I know you've probably heard this so many times, but you've done really well for yourself as Lord Commander. I am proud that the boy who was raised at Winterfell went on and did us all proud." She fiddled her fingers on her glass nervously.

"I'm sure you are," Jon replied, refusing to risk saying anything cruel. He turned to go and chat to Shireen, who was telling Ned that her dad should be here soon.

"Jon, wait!" Catelyn sighed, she placed her glass down and faced him. He hated this bit, when an enemy takes your guard down and then stabs you in the back. "I know you hate me, you have every right to. I have never been fair to you, I know I said something very cruel to you- I know it's no excuse but I had been drinking and I didn't think about what I was saying, I just wished that Bran would be OK."

"So did I," Jon said sadly.

"I know, and I never realised how much you meant to Bran, Rickon and Arya, especially Arya, they missed you so much, I never realised how happy you made them- their big brother Jon… even Robb and Sansa always speak highly of you. I wish I could have seen that earlier. I could pretend that even when I was harsh on you I just wanted you to be strong… but I wish I could take it all back. I'm sorry, I hope you can forgive this stupid old mare one day."

Jon swallowed, absorbing the words he had wanted to hear years ago, words he thought he would never hear, that he still couldn't believe he had heard. He caught a glance at Shireen watching him discreetly while talking to Arya and Sansa. The Baratheon girl's blue eyes found his grey and nodded. "You're a good man, Jon Snow, no a great man, if only all men could follow your example."she had once told him. She smiled at him encouragingly.

He then saw Gared nodding to him, whom he had bonded with when the latter arrived at the Wall. Like Jon, he had a home with his host family but fate had brought him to the Wall. Despite the short time, Jon trusted Gared as much as Pyp, Grenn and Samwell.

"I forgive you," Jon replied to Catelyn's relief. "Although, you're not that old," he added with a smile.

Fortunately, her shocked expression broke into a weak smile. "But I am a stupid mare, am I?"

"I didn't say that," Jon responded. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have implied it."

"It's OK, I deserved that," Catelyn admitted, before glancing over to Edmure, who was getting very cosy with the brown haired girl and giving her a massage on the shoulders.

"Rosilin Frey," Catelyn muttered. "Walder Frey's daughter by his sixth or so wife." Her voice betrayed deep resentment and mistrust, then she suddenly gaped at Jon with alarm. "I-I didn't say that, you mustn't repeat any of that, please Jon."

Jon expected to feel a shot of content that this woman was begging him. But all that anger and resentment that was held in him all those years and through all those trials, completely left him like air from his lungs. He had no need for it or pride any more.

"You have my word," Jon said simply.

"Stannis!" Ned called to the figures who were just walking in. "I'm glad you and Davos could join us!"

Stannis Baratheon was an austere man, who rarely smiled and was always in military protocol mode (or so people said). Today he arrived as straight and tall as a spear in his dark grey admiral coat that was decorated with polished medals. He wore a dour expression.

Davos Seaworth was an aging and friendly looking man. Normally he had a twinkling smile on his face and joke to lighten up the mood, but this time he was sombre, very much like his boss. Next to him was Rickon Stark, covered in a cloak looking shocked.

"Rickon, what happened?" Catelyn cried, rushing towards him. The rest of the Starks and Jory followed, but then Robb ordered everyone to take a step back.

"Rickon, why don't you sit?" Robb offered a chair. The preteen sat down gingerly.

"We found him hanging from the roof of one of the gatehouses," Davos informed.

"You were climbing?" Catelyn barked. Rickon looked sheepishly away. "You could have been killed or…..." she began, her glance betrayed her looking towards Bran, in his wheelchair, though she tried to look away. Bran sighed and wheeled away, Meera made to follow but Rodrik Forrester put a hand on her shoulder. "Let him go," he whispered gently.

"I think, we should all be glad that we're lucky enough to be alive and here and leave it at that for tonight," Rodrik suggested.

"Ricky, come with me," Sansa said, nodding to Davos and escorting her brother nearer to the hearth.

"Thank you, Mr Seaworth," Catelyn said.

"It's no bother, call us Davos, if you want," he replied.

"Either way, we can't thank you enough," Ned said, placing his hands on Catelyn's shoulders. "You are always welcome here at Winterfell.

"And I see you've brought….. company." It was at that moment Shireen saw the two gaunt figures, unkept, cold and as if they had been resurrected from the grave. The girl's brown hair was dirtied with grime and a decaying sandying colour, the older middle aged looking man's beard and hair were unkept, his fingernails were blackened, a finger or two were missing, as were a few teeth. Both had dark patches under their eyes as if they had not slept in days, or if at all they were sleeping rough. Their cheek bones could be seen through their pale emaciated faces. The girl visibly flinched at the lighting, but Shireen looked closer and realised why- her cheekbone had been broken and fused again- not that it made her hideous, but it was noticeable.

"Jeyne?" Arya said, moving closer. Jeyne turned away. "Jeyne, it's OK, it's me Arya. Who did this to you?"

"We found them on the way here," Stannis informed them. "Lying in the snow. We would have missed them, except this blond fellow with a beard waved us over and asked that we take them to where we were headed. We thought it best to take these two to you and let you decide what ought to be done, this is your house, so your decision."

People were shuffling around, trying to enquire as to what had happened. Ned motioned for Sansa to step in and remove Jeyne Poole from the gathering, to take her somewhere to get cleaned up. Sansa was transfixed on the spot for a moment, before Arya nudged her to help. It was then their attention turned to the middle aged looking man.

"Theon?" Robb asked. He approached closer before his expression darkened. "You have a lot of nerve showing your face here today!"

"Theon Greyjoy!" Catelyn snarled with more contempt than Jon had ever seen her show.

There were shouts "traitor" and "scum" echoed by several.

"I'm sorry….." Theon mumbled.

"YOU!" roared Bran with unseen anger, as he wheeled towards Theon, who cowered away. "Who do you think you are? We took you in, we fed you, looked up to you, taught you, loved you like our brother! You repaid us by getting your thugs to rob us at gunpoint in our own home! Or have you forgotten that bit?"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry….." was all Theon could respond.

"Do you know Jaime Lannister once specifically warned me about you?" Jory demanded, leaving his lighthearted demeanour and persona. "I defended you to him, told him you were a good lad….." He shook his head sorrowfully. "I've heard rumours about what Ramsay Bolton, or anyone else, did to you in and out of prison. None of it takes away what you did, Theon Greyjoy."

"I thought you were going home, back to the Iron Islands?" Sansa said curtly.

"I did," Theon replied with difficulty. "But… never mind…"

"And now you've come back, hoping we'd forget about all that, that we'd invite you into our home again, sit by the fire and sing Kumbaya?" Brans scoffed, a few words betrayed his voice breaking.

"I'll go then," Theon said resigned and turned to leave.

"Then go!" snarled Catelyn, followed by assent from all the Winterfell residents, though the guests including Podrick, Mira, Rosilin and Shireen looked a bit taken aback. Shireen's blue eyes looked at Jon's, not unkindly but as if they were begging for an explanation or understanding, asking him to tell her that Theon Greyjoy really deserved this.

Jon felt an uneasy feeling in his chest and looked away. He's broken, hunched and not even half the cocky, selfish, arrogant bully that he was, he held my brothers and Winterfell hostage at gunpoint, he is traitor, a thug, he deserves no kindness from us. It doesn't matter that he probably saved Jeyne, it doesn't wash out everything else he's done. He deserves death!

Would you give it to him? A voice asked in his head. Would you take him out and put a bullet in his head, break his neck from a tree or cleave it off? Or would you send him out to live his last days, or day, in that bitter cold.

Jon bit his lip, clenched his fist and looked at Ned, who gave him a nod, as if he understood.

"Theon!" the Stark patriarch barked. "Thank you, that's enough!" he shouted at everyone else and they fell silent.

Theon stopped in his tracks and trembled as he turned slowly.

"I know what Ramsay Bolton did to you, everyday in prison and outside, but it doesn't make the hurt you caused any less," Ned said sternly.

"I know, sir," Theon admitted.

"Be quiet and listen!" Ned demanded. "You betrayed us in the worst ways possible and most people here want you gone, do you understand?"

Theon nodded.

"Most people want you thrown out into the cold, that you deserve it- maybe they're right," Ned said with austerity that could haunt even the strongest of wills. "But, not today." His expression softened, as the room gaped in disbelief, like they were watching a dam about to burst only for the torrents to turn into gentle waves. "Today, you'll be a guest."

"Ned…." Cat began. "Think… please….. think about what he did."

"Y-you can't?" Arya protested. "H-how?"

"How on earth are we supposed to do that?" Bran croaked.

"I know what he did, and I understand how it feels more than you realise," Ned responded tersely, for a moment he seemed to glance at Jon. "But answer me this, how many of you will eat, drink and rest easy as we tuck into our meals, knowing that someone we saw minutes ago will die from hypothermia? Could any of you do that?"

One by one, they each swallowed and looked down.

"Mark my words, Theon, this does not mean we forgive you," Ned warned. "Tonight, we will find you some lodgings, and you will eat with the rest of the stewards. Tomorrow, you will decide whether you will leave or do your damned hardest to atone for what you did."

"I will, I will, I promise," Theon pleaded like a beggar.

"Gendry, I believe Father Meribald has a project, a village?" Ned asked the black haired man, who had helped Jory and Edmure move in the sound system.

"He does indeed," Gendry replied. "I can ask if he's interested in some more help- he always is."

"Thank you, Gendry," Ned smiled, before looking back to Theon. "If you stay at those lodgings, you will report to Father Meribald and work to repay us for what you took, and I don't just mean financially. But if I hear one complaint about you from Father Meribald, Gendry there will be no more chances, Theon. Do I make myself clear?"

"I won't let you down, my lord," Theon pledged eagerly.

"Good, now Gendry will show you to your table and get you something to eat," Ned said, Gendry took the cue to escort Theon Greyjoy away from the hall and the other guests.

"I would like to apologise for that," Ned began, but a cry cut him off, though it was more of a wail.

"Like I said, your house, your decision…." Stannis said. The cry had now turned into bawling. Jenna sheepishly pulled the poncho from her shoulder back, resting on her arm in a chest pouch was pink faced baby wearing a white hat.

"Oh my God," Shireen murmured, as Jenna tried to rock the baby from side to side. The mother then gave everyone an apologetic look.

"We've been meaning to tell you for some time," Robb explained, standing next to his wife and child.

"So, we're…." Catelyn asked excitedly. "We're actually…..?"

"Yes, mother," Robb answered, before turning to his siblings. "You're all aunts and uncles!"

"That's amazing!" Sansa cried and hugged Robb and then Jenna in turn. Arya and Jon stayed at arms length, but there was a clear spark of affection in their eyes towards this child.

Bran, who had been on the verge of angry tears a moment ago, was smiling again, before wheeling towards his brother with joy.

"Ned, do you want to hold her?" Jenna offered to the older man who was too stunned to move. He nodded and held his baby granddaughter for the first time- recalling the time he had held Robb, Jon, Sansa, Arya, Bran and Rickon, yet none of that steeled him for this moment. He couldn't see her hair, but her eyes were a shiny blue like sapphires as she looked back at Ned and yawned.

"Hello, precious," was all Ned could utter. He held her close to his chest and felt his own heart beat for her. "It's me, your grandad. You are loved, you are always going to be loved."

"Merry Christmas, Dad," Robb croaked, blinking back a wave of emotion. Ned just smiled back at him and nodded, while rocking the baby. Robb then turned to Jon, "Do you want to hold your goddaughter?"

"What, me?" Jon asked, his heart surpised yet touched. "I-I….. I'd love to, thanks. Thank you!" He and Robb pulled each other in for a hug. Before Jenna also hugged him, telling him that she could think of no better person from what Robb had told her.

"Gently does it," Ned advised, handing over the little girl to Jon, who smile protectively at her and she smiled back. A tear fell on her cheek, making that smile fade, with confusion on that beautiful face. She tried to wipe it, explore what that was, but Jon hushed her and wiped it away with his finger, which she latched onto.

"What's her name?" Jon asked at last.

"Well, Dad, you've always told us it's best to name a child after a loved one who's passed away, that way part of them lives on," Robb answered. He then looked towards Stannis with a genuine smile. "We've decided to call her Cassana; Cassana Stark."

Stannis had never really fitted in at huge social gatherings, his back was always stood to attention as if he was on a parade or campaign. He was never known to smile, but in that second his hard eyes softened and his frown turned into a wistful smile, like the first sign of spring on a winter's day. Stannis swallowed and croaked: "Cassana Stark….. Aye, Cassana is a fine name."

Excerpt from Chapter 2:

"I don't think he like me very much," Tyrion smirked, as Stannis excused himself.

"Well, if you doin't mind me saying, you have a habit of rubbing some people the wrong way, saying the wrong things. You may want to keep better check on that tongue of yours," Ned said not unkindly.

"Lord Stark, I'll have you know I highly value my two strongest assets- my mind and my tongue- I have used them to get out of trouble, to negotiate ransoms and all sorts of wonderful uses- if you know what I mean," Tyrion hinted suggestively, before giggling merrily.

Ned almost choked on his drink. "This is what I mean!" he grinned, waving his finger. "Please do not repeat that in front of Stannis if possible- on second thoughts, just don't repeat it at all!"

Author's Note: Thanks again for reviewing! Any ideas how Tyrion drove? As you can see Ned, Tyrion and Stannis are going to sit at a table and talk to each other- anything can happen! There will be dancing and singing in the next chapter too.

For those who don't know- Stannis' mother was Cassana Estermont, she and Steffon Baratheon drowned as their ship was wrecked by a storm, minutes away from the harbour. Stannis saw this happen as a boy and this changed him. He refused to believe in any god after that.

Let me know what you thought of the chapter and is there anything in particular you want to see in the next one?