Why hello there!

I am a brand new, fresh faced SanSan shipper and wow, do I not only love this couple but their fandom too.

So, thank you for having me and I can't believe you clicked on my story and I hope it doesn't disappoint.

FYIs will be at the end in a lengthy authors note, kinda backwards but you don't have to read them and I don't want to bore anyone by having them at the top.

This is just a lemony, fluffy SaSan piece but it is also huge fix it project so please read, enjoy and comment!

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Sansa fucking Stark. Little bird. For years I had resigned myself to the fact that I would never see her again, in this life. Then somehow the strange path I ended up on lead me to Winterfell. There had been many stirrings of gossip over the years on my journey that she was alive, treated like shit, but alas, alive. I didn't realize that I hadn't allowed myself to believe that fact until I saw her, from a distance, through the crowds trailing into her home behind her bastard brother and the dragon girl.

Before I was able to steer Stranger to slow down and directly behind another horse and it's rider, I nearly fell the fuck off and onto my arse. The Lady of damn Winterfell had my black heart stopping at just the sight of her. From that moment on, I vowed to myself to keep my distance. Or at least ensure she didn't see me. I had done a damn good job too, not eating in the Great Hall, spending my time in the stables with Stranger, practicing fighting in the courtyard and the rest in our bunks. This still allowed me the ability to keep an eye on her from afar. She did not need yet another addition to her team of protectors. The tall blonde bitch and her sister were more than capable of keeping her safe and well. My little bird was no longer a helpless hatchling either, Sansa could handle herself. None of this meant I could help my almost stalker-like tendencies when it came to the firey northern girl - woman - that I've never stopped thinking about.

Then, somehow, I lost sight of my sanity and resolve and ended up eating, I don't celebrate, with everyone else that had survived the dead, in The Great Hall. My wits must still be recovering from the fight, from the flashes of fire and faces of wight after wight throwing themselves at us, mauling our men.

There weren't many of us left, not compared to the numbers we started the battle with so I wasn't concerned about being noticed by many that I knew, let alone having to talk to or deal with the fuckers around me. I hate mostly everyone and if they don't feel the same about me then they're simply scared of The Hound. Good.

But then it all started.

First that fucking blacksmith desperately looking for the little wolf, I didn't see that encounter ending well. Then that annoying Wildling whore crying on my damn shoulder. Why the fuck he thinks I give a shit about his broken heart is beyond me. And his godsdamn blubbering attracted the attention of two servant girls, one of them getting stuck with me after Tormund's quick recovery had him following his cock. If I didn't want his tears then I sure as fuck didn't want a strange girl touching me. I don't want any female touching me, or more so I only want the touch of the one woman who would never. Thank the gods a good growl had her fleeing and occupying Podrick's last free arm.

I settled down again, ready to try and get drunk, hard to do when you're my size but it was an enjoyable goal to work towards. That's when she came to me, catching me off guard. The moment I realized who had not only sought me out, but sat with me and spoken, my blackened heart stopped once again in my chest for a beat before galloping so fast I was sure the Lady of Winterfell would see it through my clothing.

How had she become more fucking beautiful? It was almost impossible to not get lost looking at her, but if this was perhaps going to be the last time I was this close to her, the last time I would talk to her then I was going to be present. Or at the very least, try to be. I should've known how godsdamn difficult that would be, Sansa wasn't going to go easy on me.

It felt as if I only blinked and she was already standing from the table and walking away. It took until her retreating form reached the doorway of The Great Hall that our conversation, and everything else that went along with it, came flooding back to me. Immediately I wished that the Lord of Light had the power to take me back to the moment just before Sansa sat down and maybe I wouldn't be such an old, rude piece of shit the second time around.

Broken in rough, Clegane? I know why I said it though and part of me can't even regret the harshness. It made me feel sicker than the fires during the Battle of Blackwater Bay and the rotting faces of the white walkers when it seemed as though, for a moment, Sansa was not only cold, and almost emotionless when she was acting as the Lady of Winterfell but when it seemed to run deep within her bones all the way to her soul. And I felt my own crack at the thought.

I had always wanted her to mature, open her eyes and realize that life was not always as beautiful and sweet as pretty gowns and lemon cakes and it would never be as happy as the songs and stories of knights and princesses that she read as a child, but I never wanted her to change who she truly was. My little bird, always has been and always will be a true Stark, a wolf at her core, she just needed to learn when to protect herself with emotional and political sets of armor.

I had to see if the Sansa that I knew was truly gone or does this shield of ice just run so deep that it was too hard for even me to see where it ended. My abrupt and cruel words got a reaction out of her though and it was all I needed. It was so quick and slight that most people would've missed it but I know my little bird better than most, no matter how long it's been since I last set eyes on her.

Sansa knows me as well and is used to me so my words and the memories they must have stirred within her did not take her by surprise or even really offend her. She is even more of an equal sparring partner for me now, she didn't take my shit and and I like to think she knew where my cruel words of her time with Ramsey came from.

The anger, the sickness I felt from the knowledge I hadn't and couldn't torture and kill the bastard slowly and painfully myself was overwhelming. And then there my little bird was, using the word hounds, knowing exactly what it would do, break the tension and lighten the air around us. It also simultaneously made me even more proud of her, something else I didn't think was possible.

Before I could recover from being a shitty person, my mouth continued to work without my mind really playing a role in what it said. I never meant to make her feel guilty about not leaving with me that night so long ago. Even though she might have escaped some of the evils of her past, worse ones would've found us all if every one of us hadn't ended up on the exact paths we took years, months or weeks ago. I just had to make sure she knew that I would've put myself in the place of her pain and trauma one million times over to save her. I will never forgive myself for not being able to truly rescue her, even though it doesn't seem like she needed or needs me.

And again, my little bird shone through, she knew that there was no guilt or remorse that I was trying to inflict, it was all my own and it was also my own shite way of trying to apologize to her, something I've never really done or been good at.

The moment in which I felt as though I was dying, a feeling close to what Brienne had left me in, but in yet a completely different way -as this time it was rooted in shock and happiness instead of pain and bleeding- was when her delicate and incredibly soft hand covered my large calloused one. Sansa even caressed the skin on the back of my hand, making my cock twitch, imaging her silken skin touching me everywhere. Until my lungs started to burn I hadn't even realized I was holding my breath, but I could only handle one bodily function in that moment and staring at her was more important than oxygen.

Sansa's next words shocked to me to my bones and cracked my heart, an organ I had thought of for so long as only being used for survival and nothing warmer. How in the seven hells could she give any credit to Little Finger or Ramsey? They may have expedited the stony change within her but in no way did she need to be traded, tricked and raped to become the woman in front of me. And no matter what, part of her will always be a little bird, even if only to me. But I know now more than ever that Sansa Stark is a godsdamn wolf, strong, cold and fair, the true Queen in the North. She has been her entire life, it was just going to take time for her to truly see that.

Before I could say anything else her intoxicating touch left me and I realized, not during my time beyond the wall or waiting for the Great Battle to start had I ever felt as cold as I did in that moment.

I was still battling between breathing and staring, the latter winning out. And even though I couldn't believe what I was seeing, it had to be true because I hadn't blinked once since the second she touched me. Sansa gazed right into my eyes, blue irises burning brighter than her auburn hair as she slowly stood up and then her delicate, little, pink tongue peaked out of her plump lips to lick them. I felt my cockhead leak onto my breeches from the heat, lust and truth behind her eyes.

As soon as her shadow passed the threshold of The Great Hall I was on my feet following her. Either the stupidest or bravest move I've ever made. Maybe a bit of both.

If I had somehow fell into a dream and imagined that look coming from the Lady of Winterfell I would firstly hope to bloody survive the next few minutes. Brienne is occupied with the Kingslayer of all fucking people and most every other solider is drunk or rutting against a warm woman, making my odds favorable. If I am to find Sansa and keep my head after this possible misunderstanding, then maybe the gods I don't believe in will have more mercy on me and allow me to be in her presence, simply talk to her. Maybe I am drunk. And delusional.

I catch up with Sansa, easily, already knowing where her bedchambers are due to the admiring I've done from afar since arriving at her home. We're only feet from her door when she stops in her tracks, that being the only indication she knows I'm here. Not one other movement, not one single word leaves her mouth. We stand in silence for a few moments before I can tell she wants me to speak first this time.

"You shouldn't be walking around the castle at night alone. No matter if it's your home, there's drunken men in every corner that's left standing, all on a high from winning the war. It's not safe."

Sansa turns her head slightly so I can see one side of her face, a smirk pulling at her lips. "Is that the only reason you followed me? To criticize my safety measures?"

"No." I answer quickly and truthfully.

"Good." And with that Sansa unearths a key, hidden within her dress and opens the door to her room. She stays leaning against the door, holding it open and waiting for me to enter.

The room is one of the largest I've ever seen yet I still feel as though I take up too much space where I stand just inside the doorway, only allowing enough room for her to close and bar the door.

Sansa moves past me, brushing my side on her way to one of three tables against the wall under her windows. As she busies herself pouring something into goblets, hopefully not wine, I wanted to remain sober for whatever happens, I take in my surroundings.

The first table is filled with maps, papers, quills and ink. This is obviously her Lady table, full of responsibilities and decision making. The table on the opposite end of the room nearest to the fire is neatly filled with every piece of material and sewing utensils anyone could ever want. My chest tightens with as much as happiness I can muster at the knowledge Sansa still sews, a passion of hers she was always gifted at.

Lastly, my eyes fall to her tall frame leaning back against the middle table. It's filled with jugs of liquid, bowls of fruit and a plate of lemon cakes. My little bird is still in there.

Sansa then offered me a goblet. "No." I shake my head. "Had enough wine for one night."

She looked completely shocked at my refusal. "Well, I happen to be of the same sentiment, it's only water."

She makes no move to hand me the cup or to even meet me halfway across the room. I'm still close enough to the door that I can practically touch it and I know this is her way of making me decide if I am going to come closer or rip the door off its hinges and run.

I might be mean and ugly but I'm no fool. In three long strides I'm standing right in front of her, taking the goblet out of her hand and draining it in one gulp.

"Little bird, I-." I huff, the words not coming out how I want them to. "Well, before- shit. I'm no good at this." I hang my head, irritated at my own shortcomings.

"After everything we've been through, together and apart, speaking freely in one another's company is the least of our worries." Sansa softly said.

Her gentle voice calmed my nerves and racing thoughts, two issues I'm not accustomed to. I try once more. "Earlier, when I spoke of your time with that piece of shite bastard boy, that was too crass, even for me." That was the closest to an apology I could muster.

Sansa looked even more taken aback than when I denied what I thought was wine. "I'm well accustomed to your sharp tongue Sandor, and all you spoke was the truth. Please don't feel any way about it. Honestly, it was refreshing to have someone attack the subject head on, instead of tip toeing circles around it...and me. It happened, I survived and it's over. Forever." She let out a harsh breath and closed her eyes for a moment before continuing.

"I also may have spoken unclearly. Even though I survived Baelish and Ramsey I in no way needed their cruelty for growth." Sanasa looks as though she is considering telling me what's on the the tip of her tongue. "And even if I have dreamt of you and thought of the possibilities of what could have been, I could never have left that night with you. I know it wouldn't have ended well for either of us." Sansasighed between thoughts. "Bran, he's no longer my sweet baby brother and I don't always understand him but his words are always just and true. He says everything that's happened to us all needed to be to overcome the white walkers and the Night King. I endured my past so we can all be alive today, and I would sacrifice myself again to save the Seven Kingdoms from the army of the dead." She finishes with a proud look on her face, the look of a leader.

Of all the eloquent, strong, meaningful words Sansa just uttered, the only fact my mind can grasp onto is that she dreamt of me. Not only wondered what could've been, much as I have over the years. I squeezed the goblet so tight I could've ground it into sand with my bare hands.

"Aye, I know little bird." Is all I can muster and before embarrassing myself, I leant forward and around her to place the cup on the table, and then I was frozen. Once my hand let go of the cool steel, it rested on the wood next to her hip, our bodies mere inches from one another now. Sansa seemed to be as immobilized as I, not moving or looking away from me. Other than a hitch to her breath I wouldn't have known my frame towering over her affected her at all.

We stayed that way for what felt like hours but was only seconds before Sansa spoke again. "Why did you decide to accept my invitation Sandor, why did you come?" She broke our heated gaze, turning to place her own cup down, seemingly needing a distraction.

And then I recognized it. The look on her face and the feeling coming off of her. Rejection. Even though I have never met someone more woman than Sansa Stark, in that moment she was just a silly girl. How the fuck she could think I would ever reject her is beyond me. Did she truly believe I only came after her to talk and attempt to apologize for my harsh words?

Testing the waters, I gently placed the fingertips of my free hand under her chin, forcing her to meet my gaze again.

"For many reasons, many good reasons." A small smile played at her lips at that. "Most importantly, because I need you to ask me, ask me again, what will make me happy. And not only for a little while." I tell her, my voice softer and deeper than even I have ever heard.

We've moved unconsciously closer to one another and I can feel her warm breath on my face as she speaks.

"What will make you happ-" Sansa's whispered question is cut off as I crash my mouth against hers. It's a rough yet somehow chaste kiss and the sweetest (not that I have much to compare it to) one of my life.

I pull away just enough to speak and meet her gaze, my lips brushing hers as I do so. "You little bird. It's always been you. I want as much of yourself as you can give to an unworthy, low born like me." I tell her, my hands gently cupping either side of her face as if she'll break within my strong grasp.

Even though she holds all the power and strength here, my little bird could end me with her words alone.

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Ahh more to come! I wanted lemons (not just cakes) in this chapter but it didn't flow right.

This is a SanSan story first and foremost but there will be other characters and of course a storyline along with their journey.

It'll *heat* up soon

I own several of the books and I did start them shortly after the show began but I could not get into them at the time. After the disaster that was Season 8 I definitely want to try to re-read them but at the end of the day I am just an avid show watcher. I have been a fan since the very first episode and I did do a bit of research so I could learn more about the characters. Also, I have definitely immersed myself in amazing Sansan fanfiction and knowing I've only just scraped the surface makes me happy, I can't wait to keep reading.

I am a total and complete Dany fan and she's been my number one since the first time she was on the show. We obviously know that Dany went crazy to justify Jon killing her which is reminiscent of characters being killed off solely to further another character's storyline. Which brings me to my next point. I think that's exactly what happened with Jorah, Missandei and Rhaegal. It wasn't only Dany's grief that had her set the city on fire but if she had had her trusted confidant and warrior Jorah I don't think she would've gone into battle so early. Also, in King's Landing I think Missandei could've gotten through to her when they were first talking about the bells. And of course if she hadn't lost all three of them on top of losing her armies in the battle against the dead she would've been a different person. Well, she was a different person than who we saw at the end but her actions would've been different. I can't imagine going through that amount of loss and then having to keep a level head with no real support or not the support you are used to. So they're all alive! Sorry if that's too fluffy, I'm a softy and let's be honest, enough characters have died already.

I also think Jon would've grown a pair and loved her and been there for her. It's Game of Thrones world here and incest is not the biggest deal, plus this situation is nothing compared to the incest we've known since episode one. And Targaryen's are known for wanting to keep a strong bloodline and reproducing within the family. AKA I'm a Jonerys shipper too.

Also a Gendrya one. She didn't have to be his lady for them to be in love and be married.

I do find Bran somewhat interesting, albeit annoying but I can tell you one thing, he ain't no king in my story!