This area of the city - althought it was still situated in the Northern Zone - was way less crowded than the neighbourhood where Robb lived. The air was more fresh, it smelled like fallen leaves and late autumn flowers. In spite of it was already mid November the sun was shining brightly from the clear light blue sky.

After the strange morning interlude Robb desperatly needed to escape somewhere. Fortunately he got a text from his half-brother: he wanted to meet him for a coffee later that afternoon, he wrote he had something important to tell him which couldn't be arranged by phone. So he took the chance and quickly said goodbye to Theon (who was trying to catch up on some strange subject what he called Statics accompanied by several cigarettes and "Fuck this shit!"s).

Robb went to a lovely vintage-underground café where he used to meet his brother and his girlfriend and waited for them in front of the building. Soon he saw them coming. They looked so beautiful, effortless and artistic. They were walking holding hands, they had a cigarette in their free hand, both of them were wearing aviators and fashionable yet really unique clothes. The girl's ginger hair was shining with bright red light, the guy's dark curls were messed up as usual. It was obvious they were meant to be together: two unique people bounded by art and deep love.

The two brothers greeted each other with a nice hug and Robb kissed the girl's cheeks. She looked on him with captious face and after some moments she said:

"Wow Stark, you look like a crap."

"Thank you Ygritte, I love when you're being that nice." - Robb wagged.

"But seriously, the circles under your eyes are literally black. Have you slept last night?"

"Not much, I was working on my paper and…"

"ON FRIDAY NIGHT? - she interrupted him. - Jon, I think your brother's lost his mind." - she turned to her boyfriend.

"No I haven't. Now let's get some coffee and tell me why you wanted to meet me today."

All nodded and went in. The interior was too hipster for Robb's taste, but the place had an overall cozy and nice atmosphere. Once

sat down to a table and got their drinks (douple espresso with a lot of milk and milk foam for Ygritte, normal caffé latte for Jon, regular cappucino for Robb,) Jon took a deep breath and started talking:

"So… We haven't met for weeks because I had a lot of work, but I wasn't allowed to tell anyone about the details."

"Yes, you were hiding your iPad like people hid food during the war." - Robb nodded.

"Exactly... But now I can share that I'm in the December issue of Vogue!"

"I'm sorry what?" - Robb asked with his blue eyes widened.

"An editor saw some of my illustrations in the summer and she liked them - Jon continued in excitement. - In September she called me and she wanted me to draw eight pages of fashion illustration. Basically all I had to draw was a story of a fancy Christmas Eve with the recent designer clothes, accessories and all that jazz. She allowed me to do it in my own style, therefore I didn't have to copy the official sketches. Although I haven't really done any serious fashion illustration before, I took the chance. No need to mention that I was offered a ton of money as well. Yesterday it came out."

"I'm so proud of him! It became so beautiful and unique! You have to look at it!"

She reached for her bag, took out a magazine with a familiar-looking blonde on the cover, turned to the right page and handed it to

Robb.

"I'm proud of you too! Man, it's amazing! - Robb said as he was looking through the shiny fresh pages. - 'Christmas like in the Good Old Times, illustrated by Jon Stark' Does our family know about it?"

Jon shook his head.

"Not yet. Since we all go home next weekend, I thought I would tell them then."

"Everyone will be glad, I know. Even mom will love it and she'll be proud of you, I'm sure. You've deserved it since you did your first drawing."

"I hope so - he smiled. - I worked very hard on this."

"And it's not the end! - she cut in. - At Vogue's they loved it so much that he was asked for another six pages into the March issue. Do you know what it means?"

"Khm… No."

"Of course, you know nothing about the world of fashion, Robb Stark! The March and the September issues are the MOST SELLED ones in the entire year! New season, new trends, new faces, everything is new! Therefore everybody buys them in and outside the country! You are the one who studies business, for God's sake!"

"Calm down, baby. But yes, it'll be an even bigger thing. I haven't expected to become a fashion illustrator, but Vogue is a huge step ahead to start my carreer. I still don't have any specific plans, though, but it would be awesome to put my mark on before graduation."

"Darling I know you will. I hate saying it out loud but I'm jealous, because you will have a carreer before me. And I assisted at a Mulberry shooting in the summer!"

"I can do nothing but hope to stay with me anyway."

"I'll think about it, idiot."

They exchanged a vivid smile and kissed each other gently.

"They're so perfect to each other - Robb thought. - Jon truly deserves everything what he has reached. He struggled a lot, mostly because of mom, and he works hard for his dreams."

A little dark thought, however, edged into his mind from last night. He and Jeyne had never shown their feelings in public - partly because they weren't comfortable with it, but mostly because they thought it isn't done between adults. He'd never mind that their relationship wasn't that intense and passionate: they both preferred the balance and neither of them wanted any unnecessary drama.

And still, as they were drinking their coffee in silence and he was looking at his brother's glowing face and her happy smile, he could almost see the air vibrating around them - and he realized he and Jeyne probably had never looked like this and the conclusion made him feel a bit sad and jealous at the same time.

He was lost in his thoughts but Ygritte's sudden question brought him back to reality.

"Now Stark please tell us why are you looking like a crap. What happened last night? Did you finally break up with your distasteful… "

"Fortunately not you are the one who sleeps with Jeyne!"

"Oh really? Do you sleep together? I thought she wears chasity belt!"

"Ygritte, stop! - Jon broke the almost blown-up but common hassle. - We all know you hate her, so you can shake hands with our little sister, but I'm sorry darling, nobody has asked for your opinion now. But it's written on your face Robb that something happened last night. Tell me, please!"

"Thirrin Woodley happened - he sighed.- With Theon."

"Thirrin W… ? With…? Oh God, I'm really sorry, now I totally understand you."

"Guys, I'm confused. Who is this girl? Why is she so special?" - Jon asked.

"Oh stupid you would forget even your own name! - Ygritte said restlessly. - Thirrin Woodley is the posh redhead from Robb's group, she's the pure perfection and Robb tried to pick her up once in a party but a bunch of quality alcohol prevented it in a very… Effective way."

"You've defined the situation very sophisticatedly, congrats."

"Thanks. Now you know, Jon?"

"Yes, and… Oh man, it's crazy! What are you going to do now?"

"Do you think I still want something from her? Well I don't! I'm perfectly happy with Jeyne, those two can do whatever they want"

"Normally I would say that Thirrin Woodley is much better - although I've never met her - but if I were her, I'd never date you, after everything what happened - Ygritte said. - Sorry for my honesty, but you screwed it up, Robb, forever."

"That's what I'm talking about. I have to mention, though, that I've never expected her walking down my stairs with Theon hand in hand, but it's okay."

"If you say so…" - but he saw in his brother's grey eyes that Jon didn't believe him, and a little part of his heart stood on Jon's side.