A/N: Okay so let me just start by saying that this particular chapter went through several rewrites and in the end I took it in another direction. But it was kind of necessary for the overall plot. And now I'm rambling...okay then on with the story!

I would like to apologize for my lack of updates but I was swamped with school work and a bit of writers block. But nonetheless here it is.

Again I own nothing! And your reviews are always lovely. Hope you all enjoy! :)


Chapter 3: An Escape

Baratheon. Baratheon. Baratheon...You may be a bastard, but you are a Baratheon.

It was as if the wind itself was whispering the words to him but he still couldn't grasp the meaning of them. Haunting and taunting him. Frustrated and no longer focused on his job, Gendry drops his hammer and chucks the ruined sword at the wall. He's pacing back and forth, muttering curses and the like. It's only when he feels tiny, slender arms encircle his waist that he stops. He sighs heavily before turning to look at the petite Stark girl. She plants a tiny kiss to his chest as he embraces her and rests his head above hers. She can feel how tense he is and yet there's nothing she can do to help him. But she holds him like he holds her when she needs him. Because this isn't about her, it's about him and what he is going through.

Gendry feels lost and for a moment he wants to lose himself and wants to find an escape. He pulls away from her embrace only to capture her lips and kiss her. He kisses her hungrily and forcefully, gripping her firmly and walking her into the wall of the forge. She moans as he finds the tender spot under her ear. He instantly hikes up the skirt of her dress and cups the back of her thighs, lifting her up and wrapping her legs around his waist. She reaches for his face again and is met with another desperate kiss. For once, she is surprised that Gendry doesn't fumble in removing their clothes, rather he is tearing and ripping her dress apart. He throws his tunic aside and pulls his breeches to his knees, yanking her bodice open and bunching it at the waist. Her small breast spill out and he nibbles on them as she moans.

Arya places her hands on his shoulders as he removes her small clothes without haste. She lets out a loud gasp when he shoves himself inside her. He grunts as he pumps into her again and again, harder and faster than ever. Arya knows almost instantaneously that something is wrong by the way he's handling her. He's pulling and pushing at her with a monstrous force. Normally she likes it when Gendry's rough with her, but this was different. Then she understands what he's doing: he's trying to forget and he wants her to help him. She's still moaning into him but she begins to feel pain on her back and she winces when he pounds into her. He's gripping her thighs too tightly. And pretty soon he is mercilessly banging her into the wall.

"Gendry, stop. Stop!" she pleads.

He abruptly stops when he hears her voice. It brings him back into reality and he looks at her. Her soft and pink lips are raw and swollen, her lip split open. She has bite marks on her chest and a large bruise is beginning to form on her back. He can see the bruises he's made on her thighs begin to set in. He opens his mouth and closes it as he tries to find words to say to her but cannot.

Finally he speaks. "Oh gods Arya! I'm-I'm sorry! I-I-I don't know what the fuck is wrong with me...I-I- "

She can see his face is torn with anger and sorrow, not at her but himself. She cups his face into her tiny palms.

"Look at me. Gendry, look at me."

He hesitates before turning but reluctantly looks.

"It's okay." she strokes his face,"Nothing is wrong with you. But this isn't you. The Gendry I know, is kind and gentle and he would never hurt me. I don't recognize this Gendry, who holds me too tightly or kisses me with too much force. That Gendry I don't know."

He looks away ashamed and moves away to put her down. She stops him and grabs him by the chin, forcing his gaze back. Pressing his forehead to hers, he exhales. "I'm sorry. I don't want to be that person anymore."

"I know." she replies hugging him. "I know."

They stand there for a few minutes until he starts to set her down. Again, she stops him.

"No, don't."

He gives Arya a confused look.

"I want to."

"Are you sure? I've already hurt you enough and I don't want to do it again. I couldn't bear it if I did." he said with a pained face.

She nods at him. "You won't hurt me. I know you won't. Be gentle, like the first time."

Leaning forward, Gendry plants a soft feather-like kiss on her lips before moving to the bed in the loft. He lays her down and slowly but steadily makes love to her like the first time.

For the first time since Stannis' arrival at Winterfell, Gendry had a pleasant night's sleep with Arya in his arms.


Arya woke first and quietly slipped from the bed. It was still dark but the first light of dawn was approaching and she only had a few minutes to return to the castle without being seen. She frowned as she attempted to put her dress on again but was no use seeing as he ruined it completely. Sighing she reached for his tunic and put that on instead. It was perfect considering how it fell to her knees and looked like a dress on her. She must have made more noise than she thought, when she felt a pair of strong arms encase her.

"Come back to bed."

"You know I can't. Sansa would kill me if she saw me walk out of here in your clothes, besides we have to meet with Stannis later."

He huffed in protest but knew that she was right. "Fine but why are you taking my shirt?"

She points to the floor and picks up the destroyed dress.

"Oh."

She giggles, turning to face him. He looks embarrassed but she kisses the tip of his nose. "It's fine. Never like that dress in the first place."

Gendry lets a small smile appear on his face before lifting her into his arms and spinning her around. She lets out a small yelp and then places her hands on his broad shoulders.

"Silly boy." she teases, kissing him.

"I'm not a boy m'lady." he countered.

"Shut up!"

Laughter filled the forge as Arya walked to the castle.


"Arya! Arya!"

Arya turned to see little Rickon running straight at her in the Great Hall. He barreled into her with such a force she nearly fell over. Picking up the youngest Stark, she kissed his forehead.

"Morning, my love. Hungry?" she asked as she mussed his auburn hair.

"Yes. Mot-" he stopped short when he saw her expression. She smiled weakly but kissed his temple again in encouragement.

"It's okay to call me that Rickon. I'm fine with it." Caressing his face with tenderness, he smiled the brightest smile that she'd ever seen. Her heart broke a little when she saw remnants of Robb and her mother in Rickon. Shoving her feelings aside, Arya led Rickon to the table. It often surprised her how close Rickon had gotten to her, instead of Sansa. People around Winterfell always talked about how much Sansa looked like her mother and Arya, their aunt Lyanna. Arya assumed that Rickon would take to their older sister because of this. But in the end, she loved how her baby brother doted on her. It reminded her of a little girl that followed her around in Braavos.

She was torn from her thoughts when Rickon tugged on her sleeves. "Arya. Arya. Mother!"

"Sorry sweetling, what was that?

"I was just wondering if Gendry could join us this morning?" he said, asking in the softest voice. Arya's lips curled into a smile and nodded, marveling in the way her youngest sibling had grown fond of her blacksmith.

Where is Gendry?, she thought. It was as if her thought had summoned him as he walked into straight to the table on the far left of the Great Hall.

"Gendry!" Rickon screamed as he ran to him.

He turned at the sound of his name.

"Yes, m'lord."

Rickon punched him and Arya let out a small laugh.

"Don't call me that! I just wanted to see if you would like to break your fast with mother and me?" he responded.

Gendry arched his eyebrows in confusion until Arya crept closer to the boys.

"He means me."

"Oh."

"Well, what do you say?" Rickon asked, impatiently tapping his foot on the ground.

Gendry responded by hauling Rickon onto his shoulders and racing to the main table. Sansa was startled by the ruckus but nonetheless laughed and returned to her duties.

Setting the boy down, Gendry walks to the other side until Rickon pulls him down to sit next to him. "No sit here and mother can sit to my left."

"Umm...if you insist m'lo-I mean Rickon."

"Good! Arya may I have some sweets now?"

Arya brushed the hair that fell into his Tully eyes and pinched his nose. "Of course, my love. Anything you want."

He grinned again and reached for the tray of pastries before then.

"Ah ah, not to much my little wildling. I don't want you to have a belly ache later." she said with a surprisingly maternal tone.

Rickon pouted but listened to his sister. By now Bran had joined them and set his book aside.

"It's a lovely morning isn't?" he delcared.

"Is it dear brother? Could've fooled me." Arya challenged.

"Rain happens to be a most lovely thing Arya. Are you sure you're not angry you won't be able to spar today?" Bran replied.

Gendry smirked at his comment and Arya threw him a deadly glare before turning back to her younger brother.

"Mayhaps. You know I don't like being trapped inside all day. I would rather get sick than stay cooped up in the castle." she stated.

"Cheer up mother. We can play hide and seek or we can tell stories!" Rickon said in an excited voice.

Bran stared at Arya with puzzled. She mouthed, Later. He understood and ate his food. Arya sighed before digging into her meal. It was only a few moments later that she felt Gendry pet her spine and then look at her with her favorite crooked smile. Gendry was enamored by the way Arya treated her youngest brother as if he were her own. And he couldn't help but stare at his little wolf and smile broadly. Sensing that he was staring at her Arya turned to Gendry.

Stupid, she mouthed sticking her tongue out at him.

He smirked again and mouthed out to her, I love you.

I love you too, Stupid. Mouthing back she couldn't help but let out a slight chuckle.

Gripping Rickon's hand she glanced around the room.

"Where's Stannis and Lord Davos? Aren'-"

Bran answered before she could finish. "Stannis is in his chambers conversing with Lord Davos. Something about warfare."

"Oh great. We're in for a real treat with Stannis then aren't we?"

Bran laughed and pretty soon everyone else joined in.

They were deep into their conversations when Davos Seaworth came into the Great Hall. He sought out Arya and Gendry and found them.

"Pardon me Lord Stark but his grace, the King wishes to speak to Lady Stark and Ser Waters."

"As you wish, Lord Davos. I'll see you later then yes, Arya?" Bran answered.

"Yes of course. Give us a moment Lord Davos. We'll be there shortly." Arya said as the Onion Knight nodded and left.

"Mother?"

"Yes, sweetling?"

"Will you play with me later?"

"Yes Rickon but first I have to attend to my duties and you have your lessons as well."

Rickon frowned and glared as Maester Luwin came to collect him. "When I finish, then will we play?"

She bent forward and pressed a kiss into his forehead. "I promise. Go on now."

"Come here, Shaggydog." With that the wild little boy left.

"I think we should go see what the King, wants." Gendry said in a sarcastic tone.

They left promptly and made their way to Stannis' guest chambers. Although it was not a particularly long trip, Arya made sure to take the long way so that Gendry had enough time to gather his thoughts.

Reaching the door, she stopped short and turned to face the brooding blacksmith. His bright blue eyes betrayed his facade of happiness and she reached out for his face.

"You don't have to do this Gendry. Don't do this for anyone but yourself. Not for me, not for Stannis, but for you. What do you want."

The coal haired boy gazed into her stormy grey eyes and exhaled. "I want you. Now and forever, and I will do anything to be with you. Just have faith in me."

"I do."

"Let us see what my dear uncle wants." he spat out.

Right before he opened the door, Arya stood on her tip toes and gave him a soft kiss. Deepening her kiss he picked her up and kissed her again and again before breaking away. He gave her a final kiss as he set her down and walked into the room, confident and sure of himself.

As the door closed, the words Stannis said to him the night before came back.

Baratheon. Baratheon. Baratheon...You may be a bastard, but you are a Baratheon.

Gendry now knew what he wanted and what he had to do.


A/N: I want to clear up a few things before you get confused.

I will address the conversation Stannis and Gendry had earlier and I will also finally bring Aegon into the mix. But it will happen in the next chapter.

And he may or may not have something to do with Arya's past in Braavos. Just keep that in mind... So what did you guys think? Thoughts? Let me know!

and again I want to apologize for not updating sooner. Thanks to all that suck with me! You are all awesome and may you all find money on the ground.