In no time at all, Ned and Catelyn agreed that they should move in together, and into a small house with enough room for the baby (and, Ned suggested slyly, for any other babies that might come along). Lyarra Stark was very insistent that they should move in with her and Rickard, or at least in the neighborhood so that she could come over and see the baby all the time, but Catelyn was even more insistent that they do no such thing. As it happened, they found a snug one-story, three-bedroom house in the suburbs, about fifteen minutes from East Gate and less than half an hour from the city.
"It's cozy," Ned said.
"That's one word for it."
He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "This is the third time we've looked at it."
"I know."
He lifted a hand to gesture at the kitchen. "Look; here's where we'll eat. We'll put a highchair over there," he pointed, "and feed the baby. And you can make that delicious bacon." He turned her towards the entrance to the living room. "In there is where we'll watch TV and kick back with a glass of wine at the end of the day. The baby will take its first steps right there." He pointed to the spot, then turned her towards the windows that overlooked the deck and the tidy backyard. "And out there is where we'll build a swingset for the kids."
"Kids?" she echoed with a smile. "Who says we're having more than one?"
"Well, we don't want Junior to get lonely," he said, patting her belly. "The kids can play in the backyard, and at night we'll sit on the porch with a cold drink and watch the sunset."
"It sounds picturesque," she said, humoring him.
He took a step behind her. "And right here…"
She turned to see him and her mouth fell open—for he was kneeling on the polished floor, a box in his hands. "Ned…"
"Right here, is where you'll point and say, 'That's where your father proposed to me.'" He grinned up at her. "What do you say, Cat?"
She sank on her knees in front of him. "Oh, Ned…"
"I don't think you're supposed to be on your knees," he whispered.
She laughed. "I feel silly staring down at you like that."
"So what do you say?" he pressed.
She smiled. "Yes. I say yes."
.
They set the wedding for a little over a month away. Ned said he didn't mind waiting a little while longer, but Catelyn was very adamant that she was going to walk down the aisle, not waddle down it, and Ned said that she had a fair point. They'd decided to keep it small, celebrating amongst close friends and family, most of whom already knew about the pregnancy.
But there was one who Ned felt the need to call first.
"Hello?"
He cleared his throat. "Hi…Ashara. It's me. Ned."
The other line was silent for so long that he feared she had hung up. He was about to hang up and redial her number when she made a small noise. "Hi, Ned."
"Hi." He swallowed. "How…how are you?"
"Oh, I'm…I'm fine. How are you?"
"I'm good." He hesitated. "I actually called to, um, tell you that…well, I'm, ah, getting married."
More silence.
"Married?" she asked faintly.
"Yes." He winced. This was a horrible idea. "We're, um, expecting."
"That was…awful fast," she observed. "But that's…that's great, Ned."
"Yeah." He rubbed his neck. "I, uh, I'd love it if you could come."
She blew out a breath. "I don't know…"
"I understand if you don't want to," he said quickly. "I know we haven't talked since…"
"I'll come," she said abruptly.
Ned blinked. "O-oh, well, great! That's, that's great. I'll, uh, send you an invitation."
"Okay. Thanks."
Ned was about to hang up when he heard it.
"Ned?"
"Yes?"
She was quiet for a moment. "Nothing." And she hung up.
.
The morning of the wedding dawned clear and cold. Catelyn, Ned, and Lysa drove over to the sept ("The groom really isn't supposed to see the bride until the wedding," Lysa said, to which Catelyn snappily retorted, "The bride isn't really supposed to be pregnant, either, and yet, here we are.") and whisked off in their respective directions. They had decided that, since the ceremony was so small, they would only have one bridesmaid (Lysa) and one groomsman (Robert). This did not stop Jon, Brandon, and Benjen, however, from wandering into the room where Ned was getting ready and continually bothering him. On one of these occasions, however, instead of a sly grin, Brandon and Benjen looked almost nervous.
"Hey, uh, Ned…not to bother you or anything on your, you know, wedding day, but uh…did you know that Ashara is here?" Benjen asked haltingly.
"Yes, I invited her," an unconcerned Ned said. "I'm glad she came. And Cat knows she's coming, too, if that's what you're worried about."
The brothers exchanged glances. "Well…have you, uh, seen her? Recently?" Brandon pressed.
Ned furrowed his brow. "Well, no, we just talked on the phone."
"Oh." The brothers looked at each other again and seemed to have a sort of telepathic battle before Brandon gave in. "Well, just, um, don't focus on her until after the ceremony, you know? Save it for Cat."
"I…will be. Thanks," Ned said uncertainly.
Jon left the room with the brothers and came back with wide eyes; Robert went next and came back choking down a laugh.
"What's going on?" Ned asked with some annoyance. "Is she with a guy or something?"
"You could say that," Robert choked. "Ned, you can…do math, can't you?"
Jon had to leave the room.
.
At noon, the guests were gathered in the sept and waiting on the bride. Ned, standing at the steps of the altar, fidgeted with his tie.
"Stop it, you look fine," Robert said. "Besides, no one'll be looking at you; they'll all be looking at Cat."
"You're right," Ned said. His eyes flickered to the guests—over his mother and father, beaming at him—over Brandon whispering something into Barbrey Ryswell's ear—over Benjen, giving him a grin and a thumbs-up—over Jon, deep in conversation with Catelyn's stern-faced father—over her younger brother Edmure, looking beyond bored—over Cersei Lannister, examining her nails—and to the back, where there was sudden movement. The organ struck a new tune and the guests rose and turned to look at the bride.
She was beautiful. An ivory dress of Myrish lace swirled around her, and hanging from her shoulders was a cloak of red and blue. Her auburn hair was piled into an elegant bun, and in her hands she held a bouquet of roses. She beamed at Ned and he felt like she was the only thing in the world. She seemed to glide down the aisle (or maybe he was just a sap), and he barely registered that Lysa was walking behind her. Catelyn handed her bouquet to Lysa and took Ned's arm, ascending the altar to the septon.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today…"
Ned heard the septon but barely registered what he was saying; he felt like he was in a dream. He and Catelyn couldn't stop grinning at each other.
Until the septon asked if anyone objected to the marriage.
"I DO."
Startled, Ned turned to find the one who had spoken. A practical joke by Brandon, maybe? But no, the man who stood was on the bride's side, beady little eyes boring into Catelyn.
"Petyr!" Catelyn exclaimed as the guests gasped in surprise.
"Petyr?" Ned repeated in confusion. The name sounded familiar.
The man called Petyr stepped forward. "I object to this marriage on the grounds that I have loved Catelyn Tully all my life, and I will love her for the rest of my life. I love her more than this man ever will, and she knows deep in her heart that she loves me too."
Ned's mouth fell open. Oh. That Petyr.
"Get out," Catelyn said in a terrifyingly calm voice.
"Cat—"
"Get out of my wedding," she said in that same deadly calm tone. "Leave. Now."
When Petyr made to object, Robert, Brandon, Benjen, Jon, and Edmure forcibly escorted him from the building.
"What is he doing here?" Ned whispered.
"Hells if I know," Catelyn replied, wincing as she remembered who was standing next to them. "Pardon me, Septon." She turned back to Ned. "I imagine he thought it would be a romantic gesture, showing up at the wedding without telling anyone and trying to win me back once and for all. Poor Petyr."
"I don't know if that's the adjective I would use," Ned said in an annoyed tone.
Robert, Brandon, Benjen, Jon, and Edmure returned, tuxedos slightly askew and faces a little red but otherwise fine. "Go on," Robert said easily as he returned to his place on the altar.
The septon wavered. "Does…does anyone else object?"
"Nope," Robert said loudly, cracking his knuckles. "Get on with it, septon."
"Right." The flustered septon turned to the pair. "Will the father of the bride please come forward to take his cloak?"
Hoster Tully rose and walked up to the altar, where he removed Catelyn's Tully cloak with a solemn look on his face. Robert handed the Stark cloak to Ned, who wrapped it tenderly around Catelyn's shoulders. She looked good in Stark colors, he noted—the blue and silver suited her. Suddenly he forgot about Petyr. There was only Catelyn. They slid rings onto one another's fingers and beamed.
"With this kiss, I pledge my love, and take you as my husband."
"With this kiss, I pledge my love, and take you as my wife."
They kissed warmly, and Ned dimly registered the applause.
They were married now.
.
The reception was held in another room of the septon. It was simple, as per Catelyn's request, but lovely. Campy music played over the speakers and the guests laughed themselves silly over cake and champagne. After a dance or two, Ned and Catelyn stood off to the side so that the guests could come congratulate them. His family came through first, followed by hers, then Robert and Cersei, then Jon. Ned had just finished thanking Jon when he saw the next person in line.
"Ashara," he started to say, but just then he registered the purple dress that strained against her swollen belly.
Oh.
"Ashara?" Catelyn asked with wide eyes.
"Yes." Ashara bit her lip, wringing her hands nervously.
Ned stared at her. "Is it…?" he asked, already afraid he knew the answer. Now he understood what Brandon, Benjen, Jon and Robert had been guffawing about earlier.
She ducked her head. "Yes."
He could feel Catelyn's eyes burning into him. He forgot how to breathe. "Why didn't…why didn't you say anything…?"
"I was afraid," she admitted to her stomach. "I didn't think you wanted to have anything to do with me. And I heard you'd found someone else and I thought…I didn't want to make trouble. And I meant to tell you when you called about the wedding, but I got cold feet. I'm sorry it had to be like this." Her violet eyes flickered to Catelyn.
Ned was terrified of Catelyn's reaction; much to his surprise, however, she smiled at Ashara. "When's the baby due?"
Ashara was equally terrified. "Any day now."
"You must be so excited," said Catelyn.
"Yes," Ashara squeaked.
Catelyn looked up at a bewildered Ned. "We can talk about this later. For now, let's just enjoy ourselves."
Ashara's shoulders sagged in relief. "Thank you. And congratulations." She looked between the two of them. "You make a very handsome couple."
Catelyn smiled again. "Thank you, Ashara." She elbowed Ned, who stuttered out his own thanks. Ashara ducked her head and waddled off, a hand on her lower back to support her.
"Cat, I…"
She shook her head. "I know you didn't know. I'm not mad. This is just…a new development."
Ned opened his mouth to say something else when someone new walked up to them.
"Cat."
Catelyn bristled. "Petyr. What are you doing here?"
What was he doing here, Ned wondered with no small degree of impatience.
Petyr offered a smile that put Ned vividly in mind of the snakes at the zoo. "I don't believe we've met."
"No, you just interrupted my wedding," Ned ground out.
Petyr ignored this. "I'm Petyr Baelish." He glanced at Catelyn. "The true love of Catelyn's life."
"Get out."
Petyr didn't seem to hear. "I have only ever loved one woman: only Cat."
"You're delusional," Ned concluded. "Not just delusional, you're mad."
"I am mad," Petyr agreed. "Madly in love."
"Oh, get out," Catelyn said in disgust.
Petyr opened his mouth to object, but Robert came out of nowhere and towed Petyr away with a hand gripping his collar; Petyr tried to escape but Brandon gave him a few sharp blows to the face. By the time he was finished, Petyr was missing a tooth and quite knocked out. Brandon turned and waved to the guests. "Sorry you had to see that, folks."
Robert and Edmure carted Petyr away while a nervous Lysa ran after them.
"I don't believe it," Catelyn said, shaking her head. "He's had a schoolboy crush on me forever, but I thought he would've outgrown it by now."
"I think that was more than a schoolboy crush," Ned snorted.
"That…was a little dramatic of him," she agreed.
A sudden cry rent the air. What now? Ned thought irritably; not far away, he saw Barristan Selmy hovering over Ashara. "Her water broke!" he shouted, and the room exploded with chatter.
"Ned, get the car!" Catelyn commanded, already rushing to help the other woman.
Ned could only stare. Ashara's water broke. Ashara was having a baby. His baby. He was about to be a father. A real live father to a real live baby.
"Ned!" Catelyn shouted, jerking him out of his panic.
"DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, NED, I'VE GOT IT!" Robert bellowed, already charging out the door.
A bewildered Ned went to the two women; Catelyn put Ashara's arms around their shoulders and together they carried her out of the septon and to the front drive, where Robert had pulled his car around. The three of them clambered in and Robert took off like a shot. It was turning out to be the strangest day of Ned's life.
A police officer pulled them over, but Catelyn roared that she was not going to ruin her wedding dress delivering a baby and the officer would give them an escort or so help her she would bring the wrath of the seven hells upon him. The chastened officer hurried into his car and led them, lights flashing and siren wailing, to the hospital. Ned and Catelyn helped Ashara out of the car and into a wheelchair while Robert drove around to park the car.
"It's all right," Catelyn was saying to Ashara, holding her hand. "It's going to be all right."
Ned could only gape uselessly.
An orderly wheeled Ashara into the delivery room and helped her into the bed while two nurses fluttered around the machines.
"Should we…?" Ned asked uncertainly.
Catelyn fixed him with a fierce look. "That is your baby and my stepchild, Ned; we are going to witness the miracle of life and I will strangle you with my bare hands if you even think of leaving."
Ned stayed.
.
It felt like hours in the delivery room, and everyone was sweaty and exhausted and in a bad mood—but when the baby finally slid from Ashara and screamed with his first lungful of air, a cheer went up in the room. Ashara slumped against the bed in relief and Catelyn mopped the sweat from her face, but Ned couldn't stop watching the baby.
"It's a boy," the doctor declared, and Ned started crying. "Would you like to cut the umbilical cord?"
Ned accepted the scissors, willing his hands not to shake; he snipped carefully and the cord split neatly in two.
They gave the baby to Ashara first, after they'd cleaned him and weighed him and taken his footprint. Her dark hair stuck to her head and her face glistened with sweat and she looked as if she'd been through the seven hells and back, but one look at the baby and her smile seemed to light up the room. "He's so beautiful," she breathed.
He was beautiful, and so tiny. Ned could hardly believe he was a real person.
"Would you like to hold him?" Ashara asked after a few minutes.
Ned blinked. "Me?"
"Yes, you," she laughed. "You are his father."
Ned glanced at Catelyn, who was smiling at him. "Go on," she said, and Ned reached for the baby. The two women guided his movements, reminding him to support the head, and suddenly he was holding his son.
His son.
He could hold him with one hand if he wanted to. He was so tiny. His head was already covered with black wisps of hair. He yawned, revealing a toothless mouth. Ned reached out one finger to touch him, and the baby grabbed onto his finger with a surprisingly strong grip for a newborn.
"He's strong," Ned breathed.
His eyes opened, and blue eyes stared up at Ned.
"His eyes are blue!"
"Most babies have blue eyes," Ashara said in some amusement. "They usually change to a different color by the time they're two."
The baby stared and stared at Ned, as if he couldn't believe he was actually looking at him. The feeling, Ned thought, was mutual. Yesterday, he hadn't even known this little beginning of a person existed; today, he was Ned's whole world. The wedding and Petyr Baelish and everything else seemed so far away.
"I was thinking," Ashara said, "of naming him Jon."
Ned considered. "Jon," he said, trying the name out on the baby. It suited him. "Jon," he decided. "Jon Stark. It's a good name."
"It is a good name," Catelyn murmured, her hand resting on her stomach. Her other hand was holding Ashara's.
.
Jon couldn't stop grinning. "That's the craziest thing I've ever heard."
"It was the craziest thing I've ever seen," Catelyn said. "If you had told me I'd be pregnant on my wedding day after a month-long engagement helping deliver my new husband's ex-girlfriend's baby, I'd have thought you were mad. But there you are."
"To be fair, it was mad," Ned admitted. "I still don't believe it—and I was there."
"What are we talking about?" Robb asked, entering the kitchen with Theon.
"Nothing," said Ned. "Just…how I met your mother."