First off let me say upfront, I don't not own the Song of Ice and Fire series or television show in any way, merely borrowing the characters to bring this story line to life.

An AU in which Rhaegar was never married, because in my head clearly he and Lyanna were soulmates. If you have a difference of opinion that is fine, we are all entitled to our own just keep it to yourself cause I'm super enamored with this pairing and I refuse to believe that their love wasn't meant to be. What can I say I'm a romantic at heart, I probably would've done the same as them so I thought why not give them a shot at what they deserved. Without further rambling and explanations here we go.

Prologue

Kings Landing

Rhaegar Targaryen

Rhaegar sat on his mothers veranda in Maegor's Holdfast, watching Viserys roam through the gardens they overlooked, watching his pale Targaryen hair flutter through the wind behind him as he tried to run from his Septa.

"There will be another eventually, a girl but not the one I carry now. This one will not live," his mother whispered to him quietly as she too watched his younger brother play. Plauged by dragon dreams as she was his mother would often see these things.

Queen Rhaella was the most beautiful person Rhaegar had ever known, inside and out. With her standard Targaryen beauty alone she had held the hearts of many of the knights in the realm, being crowned the Queen of Love and Beauty at the great Tourney of her time. See Bonifer Hasty should have been her husband and not the madman he had for a father. She had been dealt a cruel fate in life and had been forced to endure the death of her babe far more than celebrate the life.

"How long?" Rhaegar asked quietly. She still looked well so she must not be far along, or this pregnancy was going better than the others where the child would not make it.

"it is still early yet, but I know," she said softly. Her lavender eyes finally coming up to meet his. "If you have any desire to rule it must be now….. this last one to come, it will be a girl my son."

Rhaegar turned to face her with wide eyes, taking in the faint bruises still lingering on her skin and the scratches made visible by the gown she wore. His beautiful sad mother, reduced to this fate. How many times had he wished she had not this burden of duty to carry, how many times had he wished her free of the life of being a Targaryen brood mare. No he would not do the same to any sister of his.

"I will not uphold that tradition mother, I will never do what has been done to you….. But I will not marry the Dornish princess either as you so wish.. no matter what love you have for her mother I do not love her nor do I wish to wed a sickly wife. That is why they have been pressing so, she is weak and sickly and I will not have it. I can stand no more misery in my life," he said softly, his deep indigo gaze meeting hers. Rhaella nodded smiled wistfully at him, letting Rhaegar know she took no offense and only thought more highly of him for it… He endeavored to one day deserve the love, trust and high regard she showered him with.

"I did not mean it would be you though dear one, he would marry her to Viserys and bypass you like our father did with us. I would not want to this to come to pass if it were the last option we had," she said raising her soft hand to his cheek caressing it as if he were still a boy of Viserys age hanging off every word of her stories. No he would not wish for that option either, Viserys was a sweet boy sometimes and no more than four but he had a cruel streak a mile wide from all the tutelage with their father. Nay he would not subject any sister of his to that sad fate.

"I do have a request of you my son, there is time yet. The Tourney is yet another eight moons from now.. might you go to see Uncle Aemon in the north so that you are not here when… you know how your father can be my son."
"It will be as you say, I will go to the wall," Rhaegar said softly, understanding where she was going. He hated the way his father treated her and he knew she saw how hard it was for him to hold back from retaliation. He always did his duty, this time would be no different.