AN: Thanks for the reviews and feedback; I'm glad you enjoyed it.

It took less than two days for Brienne to get restless and frustrated about being stuck in bed. She was barely able to use a chamber pot without someone hovering over her, fussing over every movement and action that she made. If it wasn't Sansa then it was Tyrion and if it wasn't Tyrion then it was Podrick and if it wasn't Podrick then it was the Maester or midwife. Throughout her pregnancy, Brienne had adapted to not being as active or having someone fuss over her; it was something that she knew would happen the moment she discovered that she was pregnant. This however, was quickly becoming unbearable. Of course, the most frustrating part was that she knew there was nothing that she could do about it and nothing that she would do about it. This was all for the benefit of the baby. If it kept the baby healthy and happy then she would grit her teeth and deal with it.

Although she did have to admit, it was nice to be able to lie back in bed and let other people do the chores that she didn't want to do. She didn't have to add wood to the fire or polish her boots. Podrick had taken over training so she didn't have to deal with impertinent men who could barely hold a sword properly. Throughout the day, different people had come to her with different gifts or items to help keep her mind active. Tyrion had brought her books from Winterfell's library, Podrick had brought her reports on the men's training, Arya had brought her some throwing blades and promised to spend time helping her throw them. Sansa had made the decision to complete her work or her sewing in Brienne's chamber; allowing Brienne some adult conversation that didn't involve new-borns or weapons. Other gifts, such as blankets for her bed or clothes for the baby began to appear; all of which had been thoroughly checked before being brought to Brienne.

For most of the first few days of her bed rest, Jaime had stayed away. Brienne vaguely remembered waking up in the middle of the night to hear him speaking and the feeling of his lips on her hand. She was still conflicted on how she felt about Jaime but it was a different conflict now. She still felt anger towards him but it wasn't as fierce as it had been. Perhaps a small part of her would always be hurt over how he had acted that night but for the most part; she couldn't pinpoint how she felt about Jaime.

She cared for him, she respected how he had made the effort to change his behaviour and prove his worth to her. She appreciated all that he had done for her and the baby. She was amused at his efforts to ignore the different tricks the others had tried to play on him. She felt sympathetic to his plight and his experiences over the past seven months. She knew he was trying to turn on the charm with his gentle caresses and soft kisses; always on her forehead or hand, never on her lips. He was respecting her boundaries and her feelings. He didn't want her to think he was disrespecting her or being cruel by promising false kisses and affection merely because she was carrying his child. As soon as she felt certain that she had worked out how to understand his mind, he did something which turned it all on its head again.

It was an endless cycle and now that she had nothing to do but lie in bed and run it through her mind, Brienne was certain that it was going to drive her insane. Brienne lay back against the pillows and rubbed her forehead. She needed a distraction and she needed one quickly. Brienne picked up one of the books that Tyrion had set aside for her and began to study its pages. It was a history of the Night's Watch and it was an interesting read. When she was little and before she learnt that only men could join the Nights Watch, she had considered joining them. Her father had explained to her that it meant leaving everything behind; Tarth, the sea, her family before he advised her that only men or boys could join. She hadn't expected she would have seen Castle Black or the Wall. It hadn't been all she expected, yet these stories still had an appeal to her. The Night King had been defeated, there were no more Wight's or White Walkers and they were on friendly terms with the Wildlings. There would almost be no need for a Night's Watch now. Brienne wasn't sure for how long she had read for until a tapping at her door distracted her. Marking her page with a piece of fabric left over from Sansa's visit, she shifted in bed and looked at the door.

"Come in," Brienne called as the door swung open. Jaime stood in the doorway, his hand behind his back and a strange expression on his face. He almost looked… shy. If Jaime Lannister ever could look shy. "Jaime,"

"I wanted to see how you were feeling." Jaime said as he stepped into the room and kicked the door closed. Jaime crossed the room and perched himself on the bed beside her, keeping his arms behind his back.

"I'm better, thank you. How are you?" Brienne asked. "We've barely spoken since your brother arrived in Winterfell."

"I'm fine, I just thought you could do with some rest." Jaime replied as Brienne rolled her eyes. "What is it?"

"I've had enough rest already. How am I meant to survive the next two months without losing my mind?" Brienne asked aloud and Jaime smiled slightly. "It's not funny! It's your fault that I'm in this mess."

"That is-" Jaime began before he saw the truth in her words. "Technically true. Although you cannot tell me that you regret that night still. From what I recall, that had been a very fun night of lovemaking. Especially when you-"

Jaime didn't finish that sentence due to Brienne smacking him over the head with one of her pillows. Jaime held his right arm up in surrender and his smile faded. "That was a poor choice of words."

"Do you think?" Brienne asked as she placed the pillow behind her back again. "What have you got there?"

"It's for you." Jaime said as he pulled his left hand from behind his back. A simple wooden box, long and slim was placed into her hands. Brienne studied the box before she opened the clasp. Her eyes widened at the sight of the silver and black dagger nestled inside the box. Carefully, she lifted it out of the box and studied it. It seemed to have been made with steel and dragonglass, the two colours mixing and swirling together almost artistically. The blade itself was sharp and although not fully straight or smooth, was a strong weapon. The handle itself had been delicately twisted into a spiral handle for a firm grip and the flat expanse connecting blade and handle had been intricately etched with the sigil of House Tarth.

"It's beautiful," Brienne whispered as she felt a swell of emotion in her chest and tried to quash it down.

"Gendry made the handle. He helped me with making the blade but the dragonglass and steel together was my idea. I thought it would be useful for you to have as your time gets closer. Oathkeeper is too large and I know you would want to know a weapon was nearby for you to defend yourself with." Jaime explained, not surprised to realise that he was rambling again. He still didn't understand how just being near Brienne turned him into a gabbling idiot.

"You made this?" Brienne asked, now trying to ignore the lump in her throat. This was all down to the pregnancy. Stupid pregnancy making her emotions into that of a simpering little girl crushing on a squire.

"Gendry helped," Jaime replied. "I don't want you to think this is my attempt at buying your affection. I would never do that to you."

"I know you wouldn't." Brienne said quietly as she set the blade back into the box and shut the lid. Brienne handed it to Jaime to set aside and once he did so, Brienne leant over and wrapped her arms around him, hugging her tightly. "Thank you Jaime."

Jaime smiled into her hair as he hugged her back. This had to be the first time he held her this close, not counting when he carried her through the castle. This was different. They had rarely hugged in the past. Back when they were travelling together it was either a total avoidance of physical contact or necessary support actions. Before he left for Kings Landing, their actions had been more physical, more primal. Those days after the battle were spent celebrating their survival; kissing, touching, fucking, making love and falling asleep in each other's arms. Rarely, if ever, did they hug like this. Jaime shifted position, not wanting to break the hug but also not wanting to do anything else. As he moved closer to Brienne, who turned and rested her head on his shoulder, Jaime jumped at a sudden movement against his stomach.

"Was that you?" Jaime asked Brienne's stomach. Brienne rolled her eyes and set her hand on her stomach, feeling each wiggle and kick from within.

"Someone wasn't happy that they weren't getting enough attention. I wonder where they get that from." Brienne stated, raising an eyebrow at Jaime.

"Tyrion. They get it from Tyrion." Jaime joked before he looked at Brienne. "Can I?"

Brienne took his hand (Jaime tried to ignore the sudden wave of butterflies in his stomach at Brienne holding his hand) and set it on her stomach. It took a moment or two before Jaime felt the baby kick again. "I would never be sick of this feeling."

"You would say that, it's not you who gets woken up throughout the night with them kicking." Brienne quipped as she tapped her fingers on her stomach. "It feels like they're marching sometimes."

"Well, any child of ours would be a fierce warrior." Jaime stated and Brienne shrugged her shoulders.

"What if they wanted to be a scholar?" Brienne asked.

"Then we send them off to live with Tyrion." Jaime replied promptly. "I'm joking. They can be a warrior and a scholar."

"And if they're a girl who doesn't want to fight and would rather be a lady?" Brienne challenged.

"Then she'll be taught to defend herself but also how to be a proper lady." Jaime decided. Whatever happened, as long as his child had a better childhood than he and Brienne had had, that was what mattered. "Have you considered a name yet?"

"Not yet," Brienne said. "Part of me wants to name them for someone, for their honour. On the other hand, they should be their own person with their own name. Not the expectation that comes with that name. A good name also has some meaning behind it."

"Maybe you won't know until the child is born," Jaime reasoned and Brienne shook her head.

"Well it's not like I've got anything to do to take my mind off of it. I am stuck in this bed." Brienne complained. "I know it's for the baby but it's still frustrating."

"It won't be for much longer." Jaime reassured and paused for a moment. "My father told me once that my mother had to do the same when she was pregnant with the two of us. Apparently she was so large that she found it almost impossible to stand for too long. The maesters even thought that we could have been triplets."

"Well, there is definitely only one child in here." Brienne replied and looked at Jaime softly. "You've never talked about your mother before."

"I don't really remember her. I was only four when she died. I remember that she had long hair that she never tied back, ever. She also smelt of honeysuckle and apple blossom. I remember that she used to love to dance and would always make me dance with her." Jaime said, blinking at the sudden wetness in his eyes. He hadn't thought of his mother in so long. He wondered momentarily, just how different would his and Tyrion's lives have been if she had lived. Tywin had rarely spoken about Joanna, when he did, it was one of the rare times when he actually showed emotion.

Brienne reached over and took her hand in his. "She would have been proud of you. You may have done some things you regret but you did them for the right reasons."

"She would have liked you, I know she would have." Jaime replied, removing his hand from hers in order to wipe his face. "I-I should go. I'm meant to be on guard patrol, I just wanted to leave you the dagger."

"That's fine," Brienne replied as Jaime smiled at her and got up off the bed. "Jaime, thank you. For everything."

"Anytime Brienne," Jaime said as he left the room. As the door shut behind him, Brienne lay back on her pillows and sighed deeply. In the past however minutes long Jaime's visit was; she had felt so many conflicting emotions that her head was even more confused than it had been before. She still didn't know how she felt about Jaime. She wasn't sure if she wanted to know how she felt about Jaime. It was too mixed up, too conflicting, too confusing.

Why couldn't things just be simple?