"Order up Sansa," Hobb called as he rung the bell. Sansa hurried to the pass and scooped up the plates of burgers and fries and whisked them off to the group in the corner booth. She checked the adjacent tables for drink refills and dropped off the check to another.

The diner was mostly quiet. It was midafternoon, the calm period after the lunch rush but before the dinner rush. Only four tables were occupied. She checked her watch, she had worked the early shift today and had less than an hour left. With everyone situated, she headed behind the counter to start rolling silverware for the dinner rush.

She'd only been working at Crossroads Diner since Spring Break, but she had quickly found she liked it. And as far as summer jobs went, well she knew there were far worse ones. Not only was the pay better, given the tips, but the diner was far preferable to a season life-guarding at the community pool where inevitably Joffrey and his cronies would ogle her and make rude comments.

The diner sat on the edge of town, where the main road into town met the interstate. Even with its removed location, it was still plenty busy with traffic from the interstate and the bus station next door. Plus, the location was beautiful. The Crosswords sat on the edge of a large lake. In the evening you could stand behind the diner, or go down to the docks, and watch the sunset. But the best part to her was that because of its location, most of the kids from her school didn't frequent it, and that was something she cherished given the way the school year had ended.

She looked up as the bell tinkled and she saw a man enter. He was handsome, with dark eyes and dark hair. He looked back at her and it felt like he was looking into her soul. His gaze nearly stole her breath. The spell was broken when she heard a clang in the kitchen and Hobb cry out, "Shit!" followed moments later by, "I'm alright!"

"Hi. You can sit anywhere you like. I'll bring you a menu," she said. He gave her a quick nod and headed to the side of the diner no one was sitting in. She finished the roll she'd been in the middle of and then grabbed a menu from the back counter and headed towards him. He was staring out the window towards the lake and it gave her a moment to study him. She hadn't noticed it until now, she'd been too distracted by his eyes, but she realized he was in an army uniform. A large green duffel bag was in the seat across from him. She thought he seemed a bit sad, lonely perhaps.

"Coming or going?" she asked as she placed the menu in front of him.

"What?" he asked as he turned and looked up at her, his brow furrowed a bit. She couldn't help but think it made him more handsome.

"I – well I don't think I've seen you before. So I figure you're either waiting on the bus or just got off the last one."

"Oh. Well a bit of both I guess. I just get off the last one, but I'm waiting for the one leaving tonight for Texas."

"I see. Well I hear it's very hot down there in the summers."

"So I'm told."

They smiled at each other for a brief moment. She wanted to say more but someone from one of the other tables called out to her. "I'll be right back to take your order," she said before heading back across the diner.

After cashing out a young couple and refilling the drinks for the corner booth, she headed back to the man.

"So what can I get you?'

"I'll have the turkey club with fries and a coke."

"That's one of my favorites," she told him with a smile. "I'm Sansa by the way."

"Jon."

"Well it's nice to meet you Jon. I'll go put in your order."

She turned and went back behind the counter, put in his order and then took him his coke.

"You headed to Fort Hood?" she asked.

"How'd you know?"

"It's where my brother went for basic training. He's at Fort Bragg now, but he expects orders for Vietnam any day now."

"He's with the 82nd then?"

"Yeah." A sad smile tugged at her lips. She always got a little sad when she thought of Robb. He had volunteered though. He wanted to do his service, just like their father and uncle had in World War II.

The bell chimed, she turned to see a couple entering. "Excuse me. Your order should be up really soon."

She sat the new customers and cashed out the corner booth. Just as she finished clearing their table she heard Hobb ring the order bell.

She went to the window and grabbed the platter and took it to Jon. "I hope you like it," she said as she placed it in front of him with a smile.

"Looks good," he said giving her a shy smile back. She turned to go take the order of the new customers but stopped when she felt him grab her hand. She turned back and he quickly released her as his cheeks turned a deep red. "I'm sorry," he said quickly.

"No worries, did you need something else?"

"Any chance you could sit with me for a bit? It'd be nice to have someone to talk to that might understand."

"I can't," she began and watched his face fall. "Right now," she added quickly. "I'm off in a just a little bit though. How about you eat and then I know a place we can go."

He let out a breath and smiled. "Alright, thanks."

She left him to go take the order of the new table and put it in to the kitchen. She went back to rolling silverware, occasionally watching him eat and stare out the window. Sometimes he would meet her glance and give her a soft smile.

Shae arrived just as she finished clearing Jon's table. "Who's that?" she whispered as she set her purse under the counter.

"He's just passing through," Sansa told her.

"Too bad. He's a fine looking man. And that uniform, mmm," she said with a raised eyebrow.

For some reason the comment made her blush. "Well my shift's over. I know Roz isn't in yet, but you ok on your own if I go?"

"Maybe you want to cash him out first?"

Jon was approaching them, his ticket in hand. "How as everything?" Sansa asked as she rung him up.

"Great thank you." She closed out the ticket and handed him his change. "Keep it. Are you ready?" he responded.

"Yes," she said as she reached down and grabbed her purse. "See you tomorrow Shae." She followed Jon out the door leaving Shae gapping after them.

"So where's this place you're taking me?" Jon asked at he placed his duffle bag in the trunk.

"Just around the corner," she answered as they got in the car. She turned it on and drove them a short distance around the lake to docks. It was a Monday and still early in the season, the place was mostly deserted. They got out of the car and walked down towards the water.

"It's nice here," he said.

"It's one of my favorites. Sometimes when I work a bit later I like to come watch the sunset here. Speaking of, what time does your bus leave?"

"Not till ten."

"Wonderful, then you'll get to see the sunset."

"Oh, you don't have to keep me company that long. I imagine you got a boyfriend waiting on you. I won't want to get you in trouble."

"You won't be getting me in trouble," she said. "I don't have a boyfriend," she added. She saw his eyes brighten just a little and realized it took the sting out of her admission.

"You sure? I can't imagine a girl as pretty as you won't have a fellow."

"I'm quite sure. So sadly for you, you're just going to have to suffer through the sunset with me." He smiled then, a bright genuine one. She quite liked how it made him look. "You should smile more, you have a lovely one." He laughed then and she instantly felt her cheeks start to burn. She couldn't believe she was being so forward, but there was something about him that made her so comfortable. It felt like she'd known him for years. She laughed at the thought though, because at the moment, other than his name, she knew very little about him. "So tell me about yourself," she said to take the attention off herself.

So he proceeded to tell her about himself. He was from a bit further north. He had graduated high school two years ago. He had planned to go to college, but his mother had gotten sick that summer. She had passed away several months ago. Her illness had wiped them out financially. He had felt as if he had few options, he decided then that instead of waiting to be drafted, he would volunteer. He had finished basic training last week and was now on his way to his new station. His story had broken her heart a little.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you cry," he said as they sat on the end of the dock.

"It's ok. My mother always says I just have a tender heart." She swiped at her right cheek. She met his gaze and he reached out and slid his hand over her left cheek. She swallowed thickly as they kept looking at each other.

"Well now it's your turn. Tell me about yourself Sansa Stark," he said.

She started with the easy stuff, telling him about her parents, her sister and three brothers. She told him about the family's many dogs and how Lady was her favorite and the best behaved of the lot. She told him about Robb going off to the army, how they all worried, but how they were also so very proud of him. She told him how she thought she wanted to be a nurse one day, and then finally she told him why she had no boyfriend. She told him the whole terrible tale of Joffrey. He was the first person she had ever told the truth to, and he had listened, really listened, and she hadn't felt judged. When she finished he hugged her and again wiped her tears away.

The sun was beginning to set and she knew their time together was growing short. "Can we just sit for a bit while we watch the sun go down?" he asked.

"Yes, I'd like that." She shivered then, she wasn't sure if it was from the breeze or something else.

"Are you cold?" he asked taking notice.

"It's fine."

"May I?" he asked as he raised his arm. She nodded and snuggled into him. He wrapped his arm around her and she could've swore he had quickly smelled her hair. It made her smile and she snuggled in a little closer and rested her head on his shoulder.

They watched the sunset over the lake and watched as the fireflies started to peek out in and among the cattails that edged the lake. She snuck a peek at her watch and knew she needed to take him back to the bus station soon.

"I'm guessing it's about that time," he said, almost as if he had read her mind.

She sat up and looked at him. "Yeah, you should probably be there a little early in case they're running ahead of schedule."

"Alright," he said as he rose to his feet and offered her his hand. She took it and stood up facing him. She didn't release his hand and they held each other's gaze in the ebbing twilight. She sighed as a breeze ruffled their hair. He looked nervous suddenly and took a deep breath. "Sansa….. Would it be alright if -"

"Yes!"

"You don't even know what I was going to ask," he laughed, smiling widely.

She felt herself blushing again. He raised his free hand and placed it on her cheek, the pad of his thumb sweeping over her cheek bone gently. "You're beautiful when you blush," he whispered. She sighed at his words and felt herself blushing even deeper. And then he leaned in and kissed her. It took her breath away. Sansa knew in that moment that there would never be another moment in her life that would be as romantic as this one.

He gently drew her against him, one hand on her waist and the other on her neck. She kissed him back, her hand placed against his chest, feeling his heart hammering through his uniform. After a couple minutes they drew apart and stood with their heads tipped together. "So what were you going to ask?" she asked a bit breathlessly.

He took a breath and let her go. He seemed shy again. His hand went to the back of his neck and he looked away before looking back at her. "Well I told you earlier, I've got no one really…. I wanted to ask if it would be ok if I wrote to you? It'd be nice to have someone to write to, to have someone that cared…."

"I'd like that Jon. I really would."

A look of relief washed over his face and he kissed her again. "Thank you. It means a lot."

She smiled and then glanced at her watch again. "We have to go," she said trying to hide the sadness in her voice.

"Yes, of course." He took her hand and they walked back to the car. They drove back to the bus station. She wrote down her address and he tucked it into his wallet. She waited with him until the bus came. He kissed her goodbye and promised to write as soon as he was settled. She stood and watched him go, waving into the darkness as the bus turned out on to the interstate.

She got in her car doing her best to fight back the tears. She couldn't believe she was acting like this. She had just met this man a few hours ago. She pulled herself together and drove home.

"Where have you been?" her sister, Arya, asked as soon as she entered the front door.

'Falling in love,' she answered in her mind. "I had to work a double," she answered instead.

"Ugh sounds terrible, what a waste of a day."

"But it was the most wonderful day ever." She realized by the look on Arya's face that that she had said those words out loud instead of in her mind.

She tried to think of something else to say to cover her blunder, but Arya just shook her head and began to walk away. "You're such a Pollyanna," she heard her sister say.

She didn't care, she would not let anyone, but especially Arya, ruin this day for her. And before anyone else could try, she ran up the stairs to her room and closed the door. She took out a sheet of the lemon scented stationary her mother had gotten her for her last birthday and sat at her desk. A smile pulled at her lips as she remembered the afternoon. Sighing at the memory of his lips pressed to hers, she picked up her pen.

"Dear Jon," she began.