A/N: I know I have two other works in progress, but this story would not leave me alone! I feel pretty confident that it might actually go somewhere. Let me know what you think!

Prologue

March 2019

Ned

His fingers tapped nervously on his thigh as he waited. Staffers whisked past him without a word. The impersonal email from one secretary to another had set the meeting for 2:00. It was nearing 3:00 with no sign of the man. Typical.

But the wait was to be expected when your closest friend was the president of the United States and you the lowly governor from Minnesota. So Ned waited. Surely Robert knew he was coming. There was only one reason he had been called to Washington with 2020 looming ever closer.

And even if it was something else entirely, the visit hadn't been a total waste. Sansa was living on her own in Georgetown and working for Senator Baelish's office. They'd met for lunch, and she'd shown him the townhouse she shared with some other girls who worked on the Hill as well as the office she worked in. Even Joffrey had taken time out of what was surely a busy schedule for a freshman representative and said hello.

If Robert extended the offer, that would make for plenty of excuses to dote upon his elder daughter. Living in the capital was horrendously expensive, and while Petyr Baelish paid his staffers better than some, Sansa was surely still making a pittance compared to what she could be were she closer to home. But she'd always been driven, and he and Catelyn had supported her dreams emotionally and financially. Even with the scholarship money Yale had thrown her way, they were lucky that Robb had gone to Ohio State on a football scholarship and Arya was on scholarship for fencing at Notre Dame. Bran was settling in at MIT, and Rickon was courting football and wrestling recruiters. Jon had enlisted and was stationed in the DMZ in Korea.

Given the successes of his children, if ever there were a time to consider higher office, now was the time. Catelyn longed to move back east closer to her father and brother in Pittsburgh. And if the rumors were true, Jon Arryn's illness would take Catelyn's sister and the boy back to Upstate New York.

Yes, despite his belief that Midwesterners (and particularly Minnesotans) should not stray too far from home, the stars seemed to be aligned. All he needed now was the invitation.

Finally, the wait was over. "Governor Stark?" a staffer opened the door to the Oval Office. "The President will see you now."

Ned rose from the chair he'd imagined himself glue to and made his way into the most recognized office in the world. He hadn't been inside since Robert had been inaugurated two years ago. The personal touches of Aerys Targaryen had been stripped and replaced with photos and memorabilia from Robert's glory days playing college football at Yale.

"Ned!" a voice boomed from across the room. "You didn't wait long, I hope?" They shook hands. Robert gestured to the yellow couches and flopped into one while Ned took the other.

"Of course not, Sir," Ned grinned. "The world waits for you."

"Tell that to Cersei," the other man growled. "Speaking of, how is Cat? I'd tell you I'd read the Sevenmas card, but personal shit like that tends to get lost in the shuffle. I swear Cersei's secretary loses things on purpose."

"She's good. Keeping busy with Rickon's schedule. She takes on the lion's share with that. Makes me wonder if I should've waited until he was out of the house to run," Ned sighed.

"Ah, I get the same thing with Tommen. Seems like he gets a bigger show of support from his secret service detail than from Cersei or me," Robert nodded in agreement. "But the school puts up with enough bullshit with the security and everything. And Jon Arryn actually expects me to work," he said with mock disgust.

"Imagine the presidency being a job with responsibilities," Ned said, not hiding his sarcasm.

"Yeah, well Aerys Targaryen did nothing to try to back off old Tywin's wars in the Middle East," Robert shrugged. "I've been at it two years with no end in sight. In fact, everything I try seems to piss them off even more over there."

"I tried to tell you," Ned said.

"You did," Robert nodded, "which is exactly why you're here now. I need you, Ned," he looked serious now, the years showing clearly in the creases on his face and his once completely black hair showing gray at the temples.

"I thought as much," Ned nodded.

"Jon is sick," Robert sighed. "He doesn't think he has it in him to run with me in 2020. And anyway, your sister-in-law is threatening an ugly and publicized divorce if he does."

"What does Tywin say?" Ned asked, studying his old friend's face.

"Ah, fuck Tywin Lannister," Robert growled. "He got me into this mess in the first place. You're going to get me out."

Ned sighed, "You know I can't run on a Republican agenda, even if it is 'moderate.'"

"Whatever you want," Robert said, gesturing around the room, "You're the 'Independent.' Just don't try anything that sniffs of Liberal bullshit. You know Renly is threatening to throw his hat in as a damn Democrat? And worse, Stannis is threatening to primary me."

"Quite the supportive family you have," Ned grinned.

"At least Joff does as he's told," Robert sighed. "I was worried there for a bit when he decided to run. But Jaime keeps him in line."

"Gods forbid any of my children run for office," Ned chuckled.

"Oh, just watch that daughter of yours," Robert laughed, "she gets all the best gossip from the Hill."

"I'll remember that," Ned grinned.

"So you'll do it?" Robert brightened up like a schoolboy on Sevenmas morning.

Ned sighed. "Yes, I'll run with you."

"Praise the Father!" Robert shouted getting to his feet. Ned rose too, and they embraced. "Baratheon/Stark 2020!"

Ned prayed to the Old Gods and the New that he had made the right decision.