A/N Hello! This is an AU beginning after Joffrey's death and before Margaery's wedding to Tommen. This scene is just setting up Sansa's and Margaery's relationship and is largely based off of a scene from the show in season three. All future chapters will be longer than this. I hope to update soon, but let me know what you think!

"When I was a child, my cousin was the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen," Margaery reflected while she walked arm-in-arm with Sansa through the gardens of the Red Keep. "I was so jealous."

"Well, soon she'll be the jealous one when she has to pretend to be happy as you're crowned Queen of the Seven Kingdoms," Sansa pointed out, smiling.

"And I will love her jealousy more than anything. Although, I will greatly miss Highgarden. You must visit it someday, Sansa. You would adore it." Margaery flashed her companion a bright smile.

Sansa's pleasant expression fell a little. "I would love to see it. But I don't think the Queen will let me leave King's Landing."

"The Queen Regent, you mean," Margaery corrected her. Her eyes flashed mischievously. "In a few days, I will be queen, and I say you will go to Higharden. Maybe even be the Lady of Highgarden, if you would agree to a marriage with a certain Tyrell." She grinned.

"Do you mean…?" Sansa stopped walking and turned to face Margaery. Her face lit up hopefully.

"Yes, I do." Margaery could barely contain her excitement. She let out a giggle. "You should marry Loras! You would live in Highgarden, far from the capital. And we would be sisters!"

"I couldn't be more overjoyed, Lady Margaery," Sansa replied, smiling widely. Margaery pulled her close for a hug.

"Oh, I'm so excited that you agree, Sansa! Come, we should make formal arrangements. This will be wonderful!" The two girls left the gardens alight with laughter and wedding plans.

Thoughts of Loras filled Sansa's head for the rest of the day. She could think of little but him; smiling at him, marrying him, kissing him... But she couldn't think beyond that point. It felt almost wrong. Whenever she tried to picture herself in bed with him, Margaery's voice whispered in her head in a pitch that was just barely too soft for her to understand. This peculiar phenomenon was pushed to the back of her mind, however, and was replaced with far more important things. She would marry Loras Tyrell. She would finally escape King's Landing.

Petyr Baelish interrupted her thoughts. "Lady Sansa," he greeted her. She hadn't heard him approach the bench she occupied overlooking the Blackwater. Shae trailed behind him with an exasperated expression. Apparently, he hadn't allowed her to announce his presence. "May we speak alone?" He asked.

Sansa glanced at Shae and nodded. The handmaiden glared at her, but turned away and returned to a bench several feet away. "Please join me, Lord Baelish. Have you heard the news? I'm to be wed to Loras Tyrell." Sansa couldn't help but smile.

Petyr returned her smile with a calculated one of his own. "I have, my lady. It's one of the reasons why I am here. You remember how I told you recently that there are still those loyal to the Starks in the North?"

The North remembers, Sansa thought to herself. She nodded.

"Very good," he continued. "There is an idea that I have in mind. You cannot repeat it out loud. But the Starks belong in the North and you, my lady, are a Stark. There are hundreds who would support you if you were to claim the North as your own." He quieted and watched her warily.

Sansa's cheeks paled. It was a moment before she managed to find her voice. "Lord Baelish, that's... Treason." The word felt strange on her tongue. It was a word Joffrey used against her father when she first came to King's Landing. It was the word he used for her brother Robb when he imprisoned her here. And it was a word that was still whispered behind her back. Maybe she should finally give into its tempting call.

Petyr leaned forward and cupped her cheek in his hand. In his eyes was pity, but Sansa could see a glint of greed hidden in his expression. "It's a powerful idea, Lady Sansa. You don't need to make a decision quite yet. Marry Loras, relax in Highgarden, but keep in mind that you could someday be Queen in the North."