A/N- Admit, it ladies...most have us have done it before; looking up a significant other's ex! I know I have! This story is rated M...even though it hasn't gotten very 'M' yet...but trust me...it's coming in the next few chapters! There's also some descriptions of violence against women in this chapter, so be careful. Thank you so much for the reviews, I really appreciate it! xoxo


Margaery flung open the door before Sansa could even knock. "His ex, Margaery..." Sansa exclaimed as she breezed past her friend into her apartment. "I have to know what she looks like."

If there was one person who could find someone on Facebook, it was Margaery. "Come on, girl." Margaery lowered herself onto her sleek, leather couch and patted the seat next to her. "But before we do anything...I have to tell you something Tormund said..."

Sansa's heart began to race. Usually, Margaery was the world's worst at keeping good news to herself. She had to, figuratively, scream it from the rooftops. In a more literal sense, she usually called Sansa and screamed it over the phone. "The topic of you and Sandor was brought up today over lunch. By the way, we ordered from that new stir fry place on the corner, you must try it...sooo delicious. I had-"

"Margaery!"

"Ok ok...sorry! Tormund told me that Saturday afternoon while they were all getting ready for their gig, Sandor couldn't stop talking about how beautiful you are, and how much he wanted to see you again..."

If Sansa's heart had been racing earlier, it was about to break the sound barrier now. "And?"

"He called Tormund on the way back over to your apartment last night. I was with him at that point, of course, but when they got off the phone, Tormund told me that he had never heard Sandor talk about a woman the way that he had talked about you." Breathlessly, Sansa collapsed back onto Margaery's couch and stifled a squeal into her hands. Margaery continued, "Apparently, Sandor had told him that he just knew you were different, and he couldn't wait to get to know you better, but he was worried you wouldn't like him the way he wanted you too, and that he was going to fuck it all up, and blah blah blah..."

"Margaery, this is no time for blah blah blah...I need details!" Sansa practically shouted.

Margaery threw he head back and laughed and clapped her hands. "Look, girl, the man is crazy about you. Tormund said that he had known Sandor a long time, and that he is not ever one to gush about a woman. He said Sandor's also not the type to 'put himself out there' with a woman so soon, so that he must really like you." Margaery paused and clasped Sansa's hand. "Tormund also says that he hopes you are genuine, and careful with Sandor's heart. He said underneath that tough, asshole...Tormund's words, darling, not mine...exterior, there's a man with a kind heart."

Sansa smiled and buried her face back into her hands. "Sandor's wonderful, Margaery...I really do like him!" Sansa spilled the details about her time spent with him this weekend. She told her all about their steamy make out sessions, all the details she knew about his past relationship, his apartment, even Pierre. And his ex. "Ok, Margaery...her name is Audrina. I don't know her last name, though. Sandor doesn't have a Facebook, so I don't know where to start."

"Tormund's got one...let's start there." Not five minutes later, Margaery had found who they thought had to be the Audrina. "Audrina Cross..." Margaery murmured, turning her laptop slightly for Sansa to get a better look.

"Gods, she's gorgeous." Sansa breathed.

Margaery shrugged. "Yea, in a rocker...metal chick kinda way, I guess..." Audrina had long, dark brunette hair that hung in thick, voluminous waves around her sun-kissed shoulders. She had big, almond shaped green eyes that were hedged with long, thick eyelashes. Plump, full lips separated in a smile to show of her sparkling white teeth. In most of her pictures, her makeup was done dark and her clothes were daring and edgy. Each of her ears had four silver piercings, and a diamond stud nose ring could be seen in some of her pictures. What unnerved Sansa was that she looked more like the type of girl Sandor would want to date. In the pictures that she was wearing a tank top in, Sansa could see that Audrina's upper arms were covered in elaborate, colorful tattoos. During their show at The Green Dragon, Sansa had caught a glimpse of a massive tattoo on Sandor's back. But since he had his front side turned towards the audience, she hadn't gotten a very good look at it. Sansa's breath caught in her lungs as her eye caught Sandor in one of her older profile pictures. It was taken from the side. Audrina's legs were wrapped around Sandor's waist and he stood, supporting her with his hands on her ass. Her arms were clasped tightly around his neck and her tongue was clearly visible between their lips as they kissed. Sansa kept clicking the next button, which produced picture after picture of her and Sandor. In some of the pictures, Sandor was smiling. A happy smile.

"Sansa..." Margaery intervened once Sansa had clicked herself all the way back to 2015. "Be careful...don't go and get yourself all pissed off over something you can't change."

Realizing Margaery was right, Sansa clicked the close button on the internet browser and snapped the laptop lid closed. "You're right." Sighing, she looked at Margaery. "Do you really think Sandor likes me? I am nothing like that woman. I'm the 'girl next door,' compared to her. What do we really have in common? A few things, but nothing big..."

Abruptly, Margaery sat up straighter and grabbed Sansa's shoulders. "Sansa." she began sharply, "If he wanted that, he would still be trying to get with that." She nodded her head at the laptop. "Didn't you ever stop to think that maybe you two have more in common than you think?"

"How so?"

"Both of you clearly never had much luck with the type of people you've usually gone for. That's why you're both willing to try something different. The two of you only met Friday, girl...give it some time!"

Sansa fell back on the couch. "A lot can happen in one weekend..."

Margaery lowered herself next to Sansa. "Yes it can." Margaery proceeded to tell Sansa of her weekend with Tormund. She listened as her friend enthused about her new red bearded friend. They had come very close to having sex last night, did everything but the act itself. He had spent the night with her and they, like Sandor and Sansa had enjoyed a lazy Sunday together. They chatted back and forth for the next half hour over their new male friends. Sansa remembered her mother's phone call from that morning.

"Oh, by the way, mother called this morning and asked about my dress for the gala. Have you bought yours yet?" Sansa asked.

Margaery shook her head. "No, I've still got that one on hold at Neiman Marcus. Did you decide to get the green charmeuse?"

Nodding, Sansa said, "Yes, I think that's the one I want to wear. Why don't we go get them sometime this week?" Margaery smiled and raised her eyebrows at the thought. If there was one thing Margaery liked more than men, it was shopping. Deciding to call it a night, Sansa rose from the couch and stretched. "Well I will see you tomorrow." She hugged her friend tight. "Goodnight."

Margaery stroked Sansa's hair as she hugged her. "Goodnight." After their embrace, she held Sansa at arm's length. "Don't you dare go and get yourself all worked up over that Audrina girl." She made a face as she spoke her name.

Sansa shook her head. But back in her apartment, Sansa stole one last look at the woman's profile. Single, her relationship status read. Sighing, she closed the app on her phone and tossed it aside. When she got out of the shower, there was a text on her phone from Sandor. "Miss me yet?"

A smile lit up Sansa's face. "It was you who were supposed to miss me..."

"Oh rest assured that is happening, Little Bird."

The bubbles pulsing on the screen told Sansa Sandor was still typing. "The band is practicing at the garage Tuesday night. Want to come watch? Maybe we can all go out to eat afterwards."

The smile wouldn't leave Sansa's lips. "Of course," She typed. His reply was almost instant.

"Good. I'll be looking forward to it. Goodnight beautiful, sweet dreams."

A warmth tingled through her body when she read his text. She quickly typed her response. "Goodnight xoxo."

That night, Sansa slept with the blanket from the couch draped across her pillow. Since Sandor had used it to cover himself with last night, it still smelled strongly of him. It's smell comforted Sansa, and she fell asleep with a smile stretched across her lips.

While they were working on their grad school class during their planning period the next day at school, Margaery received a bouquet of the reddest roses Sansa had ever seen. Sansa picked up the card that had been tucked between the twelve roses. "I don't think much, and I don't think often, but lately when I think, I think of you. -Tormund." Sansa placed the card back in its holder and beamed at Margaery. "Well you certainly managed to capture his attention, haven't you?"

"He's very charming, to say the least." Margaery replied, closing the lid to her laptop. "He makes me very happy." She added in an animated, girlish voice, "He makes my heart skip a beat!"

Sansa laughed. "Yes, well that's called an arrhythmia...you should probably get that checked out." Sansa joked as she patted her friend's shoulder. "I'm just kidding...you deserve happiness. I'm glad that you've found it."

Turning to Sansa, Margaery replied, "You deserve happiness as well. Speaking of your happiness, did Sandor invite you to come watch them practice tomorrow night?"

Blushing, Sansa straightened some papers on her desk. "Yes, he did. Are you coming too?"

Margaery rose from her chair and clutched the vase with her roses to her chest. Inhaling their fragrance, she replied, "Yes...yes I think I am." She winked at Sansa and returned to her classroom. Sansa checked her phone. It was 1:30 and she hadn't heard from Sandor yet. I guess it wouldn't hurt for me to text him first.

It was close to 2:00 before Sandor realized he had received a text. Unlocking his phone, he saw it was from Sansa. He wiped his hands on grease rag and read the message. "How are you today?"

He had had better days in the shop. They were busy that day, and he had his hands full replacing a transmission on a Peterbilt truck that was half as old as he was. "I've been better. I'm better now that I've heard from you. How's your day going?"

A minute later, her response showed on his screen. "Sorry to hear your day isn't going well. Wish I were there to make things better ;)"

A chuckle escaped Sandor's throat as he read her text. "And how would you do that?" He replied. She definitely could make it better. It's not that he hadn't thought about her, he had been thinking about her constantly all day. Thinking about her had made him absentminded when it came to his work, and that was not like him. He retrieved his vibrating phone from his pocket to read her text.

"I would start by wrapping my arms around you, and pressing my body against yours..."

That was enough to get his blood pumping. His fingers fumbled against the screen as he typed his reply. "That would definitely help make me feel better. But what else would you do?" Sandor signaled to Beric that he was going to take his break. He went through the back door and sat on the bench in the alley behind the shop. Lighting a cigarette, he fished his phone out of his pocket. Sansa had text him again. Eagerly, he unlocked his phone and read.

"I would do things to you that definitely wouldn't be considered 'slow'..."

Exhaling smoke, Sandor stood and began to pace. His mind was racing, trying to figure out something to say. He had never been very good at 'sexting,' but he was going to have to try. "I've been thinking about that all day...been very hard to concentrate on work when all I can think about is bending you over your desk with your skirt around your ankles." He hesitated before pressing send, hoping she wouldn't shy away from him being so forward. He hit send anyway. Having finished his cigarette, he lit another to smoke before returning to his work bay. Another text came through.

"Too bad I'm not wearing a skirt. Otherwise we could have made your fantasy a reality..."

Sandor let his head roll back as he grinned. "Well you should wear a skirt tomorrow night." Reluctantly, Sandor pocketed his phone and returned to his bay. Beric noticed the smirk on his face as he picked up his tools.

"If I didn't know any better, Clegane, I'd say that you were...happy." Beric joked.

Shrugging, Sandor looked up at Beric. "What of it, Beric?"

"Couldn't have anything to do with a certain red headed vixen...?"

Jaws clenched, Sandor glanced back at Beric, who was smiling coyly at him. "That's the one..." he muttered before sliding under the Peterbilt on his creeper. He could hear Beric's laughter as he began to loosen bolts under the truck.

Faculty meetings were usually scheduled for Monday afternoons. This Monday was no different. Sansa let her mind wander as she listened to Tyrion Lannister drone on and on about end of the year testing procedures, IEP meetings, and contracts for next year. All she could fixate on was Sandor's text. "All I can think about is bending you over your desk with your skirt around your ankles..." The notion hadn't left her mind all afternoon. As she had sat behind the very desk Sandor had been talking about, she had imagined him sweeping everything off the top of her desk, computer and all, thrusting her back. In her mind, she had lifted her hands above her head as Sandor ripped her buttoned blouse open to reveal her breasts straining against her lacy white bra. She was so engrossed in her fantasy, Sansa didn't realize Tyrion had changed the topic to the auction that would be at the Spring Benefit.

"Isn't that correct, Ms. Stark?"

Ros nudged Sansa with her elbow. Sansa jerked her head away from her hand that her chin had been resting on. "Hum- what?" Her response produced snickers from around the tables in the room.

With an amused smile on his face, Tryion repeated his question. "Items that are being donated for the auction may be dropped off at your mother's house or sent with you?"

Nodding, Sansa stood up to address her coworkers. "Yes, you may give your auction items to me, or deliver them to my mother's house. I will send an email out with her adress. Please have all items in by April 26th so they can be added to the website and brochure." Flustered, she let her body fall back into her chair and heaved a sigh.

Ros leaned over to whisper in her ear. "Distracted?"

Blushing, Sansa nodded. "A bit." She tilted her head closer and lowered her voice. "I met the most intriguing man this weekend..."

"The friend of Margaery's new man?" Ros shot a smile at Margaery. "She already told me." Ros winked at Sansa. "Are you going to ask him to be your date for the gala?"

Uncertainty plagued Sansa's face as she thought of an answer. "I'd like to...I'm just trying to figure out a way to bring it up. I don't think that type of event is his...thing."

Ros gave her an inquisitive look. "But it's your thing. And you are his new thing." Looking satisfied with her answer, she sat back and took a sip of her drink. "I bet he'd say yes."

Once the meeting had been adjourned, Sansa returned to her classroom to work on an assignment for her class. With her head resting in her hands, she attempted to think of a topic for her paper. Tyrion's voice broke the silence in her room.

"Writer's block?"

Sansa looked up to see the short man enter her room with a newspaper folded under his arm. He pulled a chair up next to Sansa's desk. "Sansa, I couldn't help but notice you were...inattentive during today's meeting."

"Yes, Mr. Lannister...I'm so sorry. It won't happen again."

Shaking his head, Tyrion placed a hand on her arm. "No, I'm not worried about that." Concern was etched into his features. "Sansa..." He choked on the words he was trying to say. The newspaper trembled in his hands as he unfolded it. "I just didn't know if this was the reason for your distraction..." Tyrion pointed a stubby finger to an article at the bottom of the front page. Sansa turned her attention to the paper. Time seemed to stand still as the blood froze in her veins. Tyrion put his hand on her shoulder to steady her as her body swayed. "Sansa?" His voice seemed muffled and far away. "Sansa...say something."

For the third time, she read the headline, this time finally out loud. "Bolton to be released on parole." Bile rose in her throat as the message sunk in. "Oh Gods..." She whispered.

"So you hadn't heard?"

Horror-stricken, Sansa shook her head. A hand rose to her mouth. Tears blurred her vision as she continued to read with a shaky voice. "Millionaire entrepreneur, Roose Bolton's son Ramsay Bolton will be released on parole next month, pending a court hearing. Bolton was incarcerated following a guilty plea of domestic violence..." Her voice trailed off. Snapping out of her daze, Sansa sat bolt upright. "I have to talk to my father." She grabbed her purse and reached for the paper. "May I have this?"

Nodding quickly, Tyrion said, "Yes, of course. Allow me to walk you to your car." He struggled to keep up with Sansa's long stride as they exited the school and made their way into the parking lot. "Are you going to your parent's house?" Tyrion asked as he helplessly watched Sansa struggle to find her keys within her purse.

"Yes, father will know what to do." Sansa finally snatched her keys free of the tangled mess of items in her purse. "Thank you, Tyrion." With a trembling hand, she reached for his and clasped it tight.

Tyrion nodded his head. "Please be careful, Sansa."

"Of course." Sansa fought back the tears as she climbed into her car and turned the key. Once she was out of the parking lot, she let them flow. She cried and screamed and beat her hands on the steering wheel. This can't be happening...she thought. How soon her world came crashing down. Just hours earlier, she had hit such a high while texting Sandor. Now her stomach was in knots. It was a short drive to the country club where her parents lived, just south of King's Landing, across the Blackwater Rush. Luckily, there was not a lot of traffic on the bridge across the rush and Sansa reached her parent's house quickly. As soon as she put her car in park, she heard her phone ring. It was Sandor. With shaking hands, she wiped the tears from her face and answered. "Hu-hello?" She managed to stammer.

"Hey there. What are you doing?"

His deep voice smoothed her nerves, but only marginally. "Um...I uh, I'm at my p-parent's house. I just pulled up...Sandor, I'll...can I call you back?"

"Yea, sure. Is everything ok, Sansa?"

A fresh sob broke from her lips when she heard the concern in his voice. "Gods...no, Sandor. I- I mean, I'm physically ok, but...I'll have to explain later."

"But you're alright?"

"Yes...could I maybe stop by later? If you're not too busy?" Sansa had to bite her lip to keep it from trembling.

"Yea, of course. Text me when you're on your way."

"Ok, bye." Sansa quickly hung up and grabbed the newspaper before bolting into her parent's house. "Dad?" She called. "DAD?!"

Catelyn came around the corner from the kitchen. "Sansa? What in the world, is everything alright?"

"No!" Sansa exclaimed sharply, holding up the paper. "Does daddy know about this? Is he home?"

Catelyn's hand flew to her mouth as she read. "He's in his study." Both Stark women flew up the stairs to the office room. They burst through the door and saw that Ned was pacing angrily around, his phone pressed to his ear. Apparently he had heard.

"Dammit, Rodrik, I should have known about this before it hit the papers!" Ned shouted angrily into the phone.

Rodrik Cassel was the Stark lawyer and close friend of Ned's. He was a shrewd fighter and was a force to be reckoned with in the courtroom. But apparently he had little to no sway when it came to Ramsay serving out his entire sentence.

Ned held up a finger to his wife and daughter and continued to speak to Rodrik. "Yes...yes, do that immediately. Fax it to me when it's done. Keep me updated. Yea, thanks." He put his phone down. "Sansa..."

Tears sprung from her eyes. "How could this happen?!" She nearly screamed. "How is he getting out?!"

Ned embraced his daughter tightly. It had nearly killed him to see her, his oldest daughter fight for her life following her abuse. He was hurting all over again to see her upset over the news. "Bolton's lawyers have been pushing and pushing for his parole. It's finally been granted."

"Yes, Ned we see that. But what can we do to keep Sansa safe?" Catelyn asked, frantically.

"I've got Rodrik drawing up a restraining order. He's not to come within 100 yards of you, your apartment, this house, or your school." Ned walked to his liquor cabinet and poured himself a drink. "I will alert the school and the staff in your apartment."

Hugging her arms around her body, Sansa sank onto the leather chaise lounge in front of the fireplace. "It's not enough." She whispered. Catelyn lowered herself next to Sansa and wrapped her arms around her.

Ned approached the women and knelt to look his daughter in the face. "Sansa, we knew this day would come." He ran a hand across his tired face. "I was hoping it wouldn't come so soon..." His voice trailed off with that thought, but he continued with another. "Sansa, I won't let him hurt you."

Sansa cried into her mother's thick auburn hair. Her mother rocked her whispered gently, "You must be strong, love. It'll be alright." She pulled her daughter away from her and looked her in the eyes. They looked so much like her own it was like peering back in time at her own self. "You cannot let this set you back. You have come so far...you are doing so well in your graduate classes, things are going so well for you at school, you have done a wonderful job helping me with the benefit this year...don't let what he did to you haunt you forever."

Knowing she was right, Sansa looked at her mother. "I even just met someone..." She said absentmindedly. "He's quite wonderful." Sansa added quietly.

"Oh Sansa, that's great!" Catelyn smoothed her daughter's hair out behind her. "You must bring him for dinner soon." Sansa nodded as her her mother continued. "Darling, we love you with all of our hearts, and you know we will do whatever it takes to keep you safe."

Ned put a hand on Sansa's shoulder. "Yes, dear. Please do not worry. I know that's easier said than done, but like your mother said, you can't let this set you back. Do not give him the pleasure of him still being able to control your life."

Sansa's visit with her parents gave her just enough strength and courage to tell Sandor the truth about her past. Sansa wanted nothing more than to be completely open with him. Open about everything. There was no sense in keeping this hidden, she knew she had to tell him. "I'm leaving my parent's house now, may I still come over?"

Sandor replied seconds later. "Yea of course. Be careful."

On the drive back into King's Landing, Sansa tried to imagine Sandor's reaction when she told him about Ramsay. It had been something she wanted to tell him after she got to know him a little better. But there was no way to avoid it now. Before she turned the engine off in front of Sandor's apartment. Sansa took a small makeup bag from her purse and touched up her face. She took a deep breath and texted Sandor and told him that she was here. A minute later, Sandor appeared at the door to let her in. Sansa froze when she saw him. All the strength that she thought she possessed left her body and her face crumpled in tears.

Reaching out for her, Sandor said lowly, "Hey...hey what's wrong?" His strong arms enveloped her body as she covered her face with her hands. Confused, Sandor had no choice but to hold her against his body as she sobbed. "C'mon, let's go inside." He said, gently pulling her towards his door. He lowered her onto his couch and sat next to her. "Sansa?" She sniffed and leaned her head onto his shoulder. Still in his work clothes, Sandor smelled like sweat, grease, and diesel fuel. But Sansa didn't care. Cautiously, Sandor put his arm around her. "Sansa...are you just going to sit here and cry, or are you going to tell me what's wrong?" Sandor tugged her trembling body away from his and studied her. "Please tell me what's wrong."

Her lips shook as she opened them to speak. "I'm sorry to be just crying and crying like this, but..." She paused for a deep, steadying breath. "There's something I must tell you. I wanted to wait until we got to know each other a little better, but you...you need to know what sort of baggage I come with."

Oh Gods, this can't be good, Sandor thought as he watched her dab her eyes with the tissue he had given her. In the most reassuring voice he could muster, Sandor attempted to console her. "Sansa, whatever it is, I can handle it." Trying to make her laugh so she could relax a little, he added, "Unless it's herpes. That I cannot handle." Sandor searched her face for any hint of a smile, but her lips were still quivering. "Sorry, bad joke. Please just tell me."

"Sandor, I know you probably think I'm just a spoiled little Stark girl who has lived the perfect little life..."

Shaking his head, Sandor interjected, "No, I don't think that. I am well aware of who you are and what you come from, but I don't think you are spoiled. The comment I made at the bar...about your dad just buying you a new car-"

"Sandor, please let me finish!" Sansa said, a little louder than she intended. Taken aback, Sandor closed his mouth, preparing himself for whatever it was she had to say. "My ex, Ramsay Bolton is in prison."

Sandor gave Sansa a confused look. Was this the baggage she was talking about? He let a small laugh escape his mouth. "I'm not sure what you're getting at, Sansa. Are you worried I'm going to think badly of you because of some shit choices your ex made? Are you upset that he went to prison, did he just get arrested or something?"

Steeling her nerves to reveal what she wanted to badly to forget, Sansa sighed. "No. He's been prison for...beating me."

"For bea- beating...you?" Sandor was so shocked and angered he could barely get the words out. Red flashed before his eyes at the thought of someone laying their hands on Sansa. Immediately, he lamented every thought that had crossed his mind about Sansa living a charmed, perfect life. Having been the recipient of a horrible act of violence himself, his heart immediately broke for her. "What happened?"

After a few calming breaths, Sansa began to tell Sandor the story of how her and Ramsay met, and how he had slowly turned sadistic during their courtship. Sandor sat and listened, tears stinging his eyes which he angrily blinked away.

"That morning though..." Sansa had reached the climax of her story. "That morning, he was getting ready for work and realized I had forgotten to pick up the dry cleaning. I knew it was going to be bad, but I had no idea..." Fresh tears began to fall from her eyes, already sore from crying. "That weekend, I had been studying for my final exam and it just completely slipped my mind. He was so angry...over something so trivial." Sansa wiped her tears and continued telling him what she could remember about that horrible morning. How she had flown at him after the first blow to her face. How he had struck her again and again, until the debilitating hit that broke her ribs. "I could vaguely hear my brother's voice... 'Stay with me, Sansa, we're here...' Then I woke to my parents in the hospital room. Margaery was there, Arya and Rickon, too. I was in the hospital for two weeks."

Tenderly, Sandor reached up and held Sansa's face in his big, rough hands. With his thumbs, he wiped the tears that were sliding down her cheeks. "Why didn't you tell anyone?" Sandor asked.

"I was scared. He told me he would kill me in my sleep if I breathed a word of it to anyone. He had an image to maintain." Anger replaced her sadness as she recalled his threatening words. Sansa had carried the newspaper inside with her. She pulled it out of her purse and held it out to Sandor. He took it and scanned the headlines. Realization hit him when he say the man's name.

His eyes flew to her. "Out on parole?"

Gravely, Sansa nodded. "Next month it seems." Sandor's arms opened as she leaned into him. He held her tightly as sobs shook her body. "Gods, Sandor...I'm so scared. Father's lawyer has drawn up a restraining order for him, but...he won't...he's...he's a monster!" Not knowing what to do, Sandor just held her and kissed her forehead. Comforting people was not really something he had ever been good at, but for Sansa, he would try to be whatever kind of comfort she needed. This bastard had hurt her, and it made him furious that he was getting to see the light of day once again.

"Everything will be ok..." Were the only words he could manage. His own body was beginning to be taken over with a rage deep from within. For once in his life, he had found someone that made him feel like his soul was at peace, and he would be damned if someone tried to harm her again in any way.

Upon hearing his words, Sansa tore herself away from his embrace, almost hysterical. "No, no, you don't understand...everything will not be ok!" She cried frantically. Her delicate fingers gripped his shirt as her breaths came in short, desperate spurts. "He'll come for me...he will find a way around that restraining order and he will hurt me again, I just know it-"

Tightening his grip on her elbows, Sandor looked at her, his eyes wild with rage. "No you don't understand what I'm saying...I won't let anyone hurt you, Sansa...he won't come near you. If he does, I will kill him."

His words echoed in her mind as she studied his features. "Sandor, don't say that...I'd feel terrible if anything happened to you because of me. Then you would be the one in prison."

"Sansa look at me...I won't let that bastard hurt you anymore than he already has." The urgency in his voice was evident to Sansa. Something behind his eyes told her he meant what he said. It was a thrilling and scary thought that he would be willing to kill for her. To keep her safe. Sandor opened his mouth to continue, "I know we only just met, but..." he paused to stroke her petal soft cheek and struggled to find the words to express his feelings. "...I feel like...when I'm with you, I feel like my whole, dark past just doesn't matter anymore." Feelings and communicating them was something Sandor was not good at. In the back of his mind, though was the silent promise he had made to himself. To be everything Sansa needed, and if that meant spilling his heart to her, then so be it. He felt like she needed to hear this, so she could understand why he was so willing to do whatever it took to keep her safe. Sandor brushed her red hair behind her ear and let his fingers slide through the ends, savoring its smoothness. "You make me want to be a better man." Waiting for her response, his eyes lingered on hers.

Instead of saying anything though, new tears started to stream down her face. These tears were not from sadness, but from happiness, and a bit of relief. Never had she heard a man utter anything like that to her. For the first time since meeting him, Sansa started to feel like something real could actually happen between them. Exhausted, she laid her head on Sandor's chest and wept. His big arms found their way around her and hugged her close. "Do you want to go home?" He finally asked.

Sansa leaned up and nodded. After feeding Pierre and quickly changing out of his dirty work clothes, Sandor locked his apartment and led Sansa to her car. She handed him the keys and lowered herself into the passenger seat. Sandor drove them to her apartment and parked her car in the parking garage. Sansa felt her phone vibrate in her purse. Tyrion and Margaery had texted her. "I just heard about Ramsay, are you ok?! Where are you?"

Sansa typed her response to Margaery. "Yes, I'm ok, for now. I just got to my apartment. Sandor is here with me."

After a minute, Margaery replied, "Ok, love, please let me know if you need anything."

Sansa smiled at her friend's words and opened her text from Tyrion. "I spoke to your father about the Ramsay situation. The staff will be discreetly alerted and kept informed."

"Thank you so much for everything."

Tyrion sent back, "Please take tomorrow off."

Shaking her head at his words, Sansa responded, "No, that won't be necessary. I'm ok."

"No, I insist. I'll arrange a substitute. You need to take a day off to compose yourself."

Breathing a heavy sigh, Sansa conceded. "Ok, thank you."

"See you Wednesday."

Once in her apartment, Sansa locked both locks on the door and put her phone into her purse. "My headmaster told me to take the day off tomorrow."

Sandor grunted, "Well that was nice of him." He studied Sansa as she rubbed her eyes. "You look tired."

Nodding, Sansa collapsed onto the couch. She was mentally exhausted and had fallen into a near trance. The news had taken its toll on her for sure. Sandor joined her on the couch. "Why don't you take a hot shower and go to bed?"

Sansa rolled her head across the cushions to look at him. "Yes, that sounds good, I think I will."

In the shower, Sansa let the hot water soothe her tired eyes. Her head ached and her body was tense. Once she had blown her hair dry and dressed herself in some pajamas, Sansa crawled under the covers. She called to Sandor. He sauntered around the corner into her bedroom and knelt by her bed. "Will you hold me?" She whispered.

"I'll need to shower before getting in that clean bed with you. Is that ok?"

Sansa nodded and got up to get him a towel. Sandor pulled the bathroom door closed and stepped into the shower. He had to opt for 'calming lavender' body wash and some type of fancy looking shampoo. After drying himself and hanging his towel, Sandor pulled his underwear back on. He hoped he wouldn't offend Sansa by getting in bed almost naked with her. Of course being intimate with Sansa had been weighing heavily on his mind lately, but he knew there would be a time for that later. Not tonight, he thought. In any other circumstance, Sansa would have been staring hungrily at Sandor's chiseled body as he emerged from the bathroom. But her eyes were glazed over as they fixated on the wall. The shivers that were plaguing her body subsided when she felt Sandor slip under the covers behind her. The warmth from his body radiated through hers. He put his arm around her body and hugged her close to his. After a length of time, Sansa turned her body to face him. Her voice was just above a whisper. "Please stay? I don't want to be alone right now."

Sandor pulled her even closer to him as she hooked her leg over his. "Of course." He rasped into her ear. He kissed her forehead and rested his chin on top of her head. It had been a very long time since Sandor had fallen asleep with a woman in his arms. The past few times he had hooked up with a woman, she had been hastily shooed from his bed before she got a chance to cuddle with him. But with Sansa, he savored every minute of holding her precious body before drifting off into the best night's sleep he had gotten in months.