Arya got into bed feeling both confusion and elation as she looked down at the floor she had just been lying on with Gendry, their bodies entwined with heat and sweat.

He loves me. He's funny, he's sweet, he's a boxer and he's as fucking hot as hell in summer... Pigs must be flying somewhere...

She looked at the clock. 6am. She made a note of how long it would be until she sees him again. It took a while for her to find sleep because she kept going over the events of the previous day. So much had happened. She had her first kiss, her first orgasm... a glorious, breathtaking orgasm. She sneaked a boy into her bedroom; she told him she loved him, kind of anyway. She started to refer to her nipple in the third person and the hottest man alive had declared his love for her, even suggesting that they tell Jon.

What is going on in my life!

She screamed to herself, biting on her pillow and kicking her legs wildly trying to disperse some of the adrenaline running through her.

Madness!

Her phone rang at 10am, waking her from a dreamless slumber. When she had finally been able to fall asleep she just conked out, exhausted from running around Dublin and Gendry's fingers and lips running all over her body.

"Mornin' sexy ass. How are you?"

She smiled broadly.

"My muscles ache." She stretched and yawned. "But I feel really relaxed. I don't know why."

She giggled boldly into the phone.

"Ah, God damn it Ar... You're not going to be happy till my nut's explode, are ya?"

Arya burst out laughing.

"You started it, last night with your crazy eyes."

"What?"

"They way you looked at me when you said you were taking me home. I've never seen that look before... it was intense."

"In a good way?"

"Yes. If I had nut's I'd say they would be pretty blue, thinking about last night." She giggled again.

"It was fucking amazing. I miss you."

Arya gasped. She didn't know if she would ever get used to him saying things like that to her.

"You shouldn't be thinking about me. It's Sunday morning. Don't you have some singing to do at mass?"

Gendry chuckled. "I quit... it turns out, I have much better things to do on Sundays now."

"Ya, you do." She said, sighing contently as she stretched her worn out muscles again.

They arranged to meet in town later that day. Arya would start training with Gritt the following week and now that she would want to go out in the evenings to see Gendry, she had to come up with an alibi. She lay in bed for an hour racking her brain trying to find something that would work. Eventually she got out of bed and went downstairs. Sansa looked at her intently for a second and furrowed her brow.

"Why do you look so... happy?"

Arya tried not to laugh. She wanted to scream, Cos' I came like a fucking train last night, bitch! But she knew better.

"I don't know... I had a good sleep I suppose."

She went into the kitchen and got some cereal. Sansa followed her.

"I know your hiding something." She said as she closed the door.

Arya's heart stopped. "What?" she managed to say, trying to sound casual.

"It's a boy, isn't it? You were all over the shop last week, sis, and now you... glow. What's his name?"

To her surprise, Sansa had a big smile on her face. She poured two coffees and sat down beside Arya.

"I won't tell, promise." Sansa whispered as she handed Arya a cup.

Arya didn't know what to do. She had never gotten along with Sansa, they were both very different, but her sister had a good heart and meant well. She decided to put away her childhood squabbles and trust her, because in truth, she needed her now. She had no idea how to deal with a boyfriend, sex or anything like that.

"If I tell, do you promise not to say it anyone... even Margery?"

Sansa squealed, wiggled in her seat and nodded wildly. "Oh... omg... you have a boyfriend... or girlfriend, no judgement... as long as you're happy."

Arya rolled her eyes. "Boy... and do you mean that... as long as I'm happy?"

Sansa's face dropped. "Oh god... what's wrong with him?"

"He's a bit older." Arya said and looked down into the empty bowl.

Sansa stiffened. "How old, exactly?"

"Nineteen." Arya whispered. "I mean, he just turned nineteen a few weeks ago." She was starting to regret saying anything.

Much to her surprise, Sansa burst out laughing.

"Oh god! I thought you were going to say forty or something... jeez... nineteen's fine."

Relief flowed through Arya and her whole body slumped.

"I mean, mom and dad won't think so. I can't imagine Robb or Jon will be too thrilled either," Sansa continued, "but, Joffery the Wanker was a few years older than me. Then again, I probably shouldn't use him as an example."

"Unless you want an example of a grade A prick..."

"Exactly."

Sansa answered, clicking her coffee cup with Arya's.

Joffery had been Sansa's boyfriend when she was Arya's age. He was a typical wealthy abuser of women. He charmed everyone around him and was great on paper, but violent when he didn't get his own way. Only those who really knew him were aware of his temper. Sansa had kept quiet and hid the bruises for almost a year. Ned worked as his father, Robert's, right hand man in the bank. They had been childhood friends but things were strained between them for a while. Robert drank too much and took a lot risks in the business. Ireland was in a boom and money was plentiful, so Robert was careless and stupid with the bank's lending practices. Ned tried to make him cautious but he listened to no one. When her parents found out about Joffery's abuse, Ned wanted him taken to court. Roberts's wife Cersei had bought in big shot lawyers. Since Sansa had taken no pictures of the bruises or confided in anyone, it was her word against Joffery's and Cercei threatened to drag Sansa's name through the mud. Ned had wanted to go to court anyway, but Catelyn had begged him not to.

"All the neighbours will hear about it, and god knows what Joffery's lawyers will say about Sansa. Her reputation will be ruined."

Ned yielded because Sansa and his wife begged him too, but he never spoke to Robert again and quit his job. His reputation was such, however, that he found another job quickly. Arya had never really forgiven her mother for putting the family's reputation before justice for Sansa, but she never liked the way her mother treated Jon either. She loved and respected her father a lot more.

"So... tell me all about him." Sansa said, full of excitement.

"It is Jon's best friend... Gendry, you met him. He was here for Robbs birthday."

Sansa mouth fell open. You could almost hear the thud as her chin hit the floor. Arya grew anxious again.

" . ... the hottie mechanic? Are you serious?"

Arya blushed and nodded.

"I can't believe it... he's... he's, wow."

"I'm going to try and not get insulted by the fact that you find it so hard to believe that I could pull a hot boyfriend."

Arya said, shaking her head.

"No, no... it's not that. He's just really hot. Margery drooled all over him that day, remember?"

"No... but I was in charge of keeping Rickon from causing trouble, so I was inside, keeping him entertained for most of the party." She sighed.

Sansa snorted before saying, "Well done sis! Top marks. I salute you in the name of horny women everywhere."

It was Arya's turn to be shocked. She had never seen Sansa like this.

"What, you think cos' I like to shop I can't appreciate a hot man?" Sansa teased, adding, "Now... he looked like he was ripped, and all that manual labour... he's got a hot body, right."

Arya smirked. "Yep... he's a boxer too, ya know."

"Well now you're just showing off." Sansa teased. "Joffery had all the pecks of a battery farmed chicken." She added, her face twisting in disgust momentarily as she remembered him shirtless.

"Have you... you know?"

Sansa asked, wiggling her eyebrows at her sister and smiling.

"I'm sixteen San's... it's illegal." Arya replied, blushing.

"Since when has that stopped anyone?" Sansa asked, clearly not caring about that particular law.

"Gen's not like that. The age difference bothers him. I think he's scared people will think he's taking advantage of me or something. Besides, we've only been together a day!"

"A day! Awe that's so sweet sis!"

Arya snorted and rolled her eyes, playfully pushing Sansa.

"Jon doesn't know yet. Their best friends, so Gen has to be the one to tell him. Please don't tell anyone."

"I won't... but you have to give me details... full debriefing's. I will live vicariously through you since I have no love life of my own."

Sansa had sworn off men after Joffery, but that was over a year ago.

"Don't you think it's time you tried the boyfriend thing again... with someone worthy this time?" Arya asked.

"Na... I can't even look at guys, never mind trust them. I made such as bad choice with The Wanker... I don't trust myself to pick a decent one."

"San..."

But Sansa cut her off before she could say anything.

"I'll get there someday. You just concentrate on Gendry and his hunky abs."

Arya smiled broadly. "Don't mind if I do." She said and gave a little bow of her head, before saying. "Will you cover for me... with mom and dad so I can see him?"

"Course I will." Sansa beamed, loving that Arya finally confided in her and asked for help. "It would be better if you had a hobby though. I think it's time you started yoga or photography or something."

"Wow your good."

"It's not my first rodeo, sis." Sansa said with a wink, getting up from her seat. "Besides, you don't hang around with Margery for years without learning a thing or two." She rolled her eyes as she walked out of the room.

Arya felt sad that she never knew this side to her sister before but supposed she had never really bothered to try and get to know her, always assuming they would have nothing in common.

A hobby? Photography would give me an excuse to leave the house at all times... she thought and her parents knew she liked art so it would not be too unexpected if she began to get into it.

In the early afternoon Arya began to get ready to go out and meet Gendry. Sansa came into her room as she dressed.

"What are you wearing?" her excitement made her giggly.

Arya wanted to be appalled by her sister's silliness but she giggled now too sometimes, and it was sweet that Sansa was being so supportive of her.

"He likes me the way I am." She said, when Sansa suggested she wear something of hers.

"I don't doubt it. You're very pretty under that scowl, you know." Sansa said, smirking.

They met in a cafe in Temple Bar. They didn't stay long, both complaining of the overpriced food and pretentious clientele. They decided to take the Luas to IMMA and walk around. It was a clear day so they headed over the Phoenix Park and found a spot to sit down. It didn't take long before they kissed. Heat built up between them all afternoon. Every time Arya looked at him she thought of her bedroom floor and a shot of pleasure hit her between her legs. Gendry was trying not to get carried away in the park, but he had been getting hard all morning thinking about her.

"We should go to you place." Arya breathed as he slowly moved his hand up her side, gently grazing her breast, hardening her nipple.

"No... it's too..."

"I know I can trust you, Gen... and no one will find out."

He nodded in agreement, knowing he would never be able to resist being along with her. They got up, left the park and made their way to Gendry's apartment. He looked embarrassed as they walked in. It was tiny and dark.

"It's not much." He stammered. "I would have cleaned or something..."

"I like it." Arya said a bit too loudly.

Gendry smiled. "It's a shit hole, Stark... but rents in Dublin are ridiculous, so it's all I can afford."

"Seriously Gen, I think it's nice." She lied easily. "I'm not interested in you for your apartment anyway." She said, winking.

Gendry eyes grew dark. "You're so bold sometimes." He said, shaking his head.

"I know." She replied, biting her lip as she looked into his blue eyes. "Are you just going to stand there looking at me all day, Waters? My nipple is getting restless."

Gendry smirked, picked her up and carried her over to the kitchen table, sitting her down. He roughly pushed open her legs and positioned himself in-between them, kissing her passionately the whole time. He ran hungry kisses down her neck as she titled her head back and slid her hands up his shirt, along his back, grazing his body with her nails as she had done the night before on the car. He pulled off her top so quickly it almost tore, sucking on on her ear and neck immediately after dropping it. She arched her back in response and moaned. They could both feel the goose bumps that covered each other's bodies in response their touches; their breath was laboured and hots each other's ears, the sounds intensifying everything. She tore off his shirt and trailed kisses down his shoulders and chest. Gendry unhooked her bra, pushed her back so that she was lying flat on the table, and moved his mouth down to her breasts.

"I missed you." He whispered with humour as his tongue played with her nipple ring.

"She missed you too." Arya breathed, as waves of heat culminated in her sex, making her moan loudly.

Gendry kissed down her belly and began to open her jeans. She entwined her fingers in his hair and absorbed the beautiful view of Gendry's head and shoulders moving over her body. His mouth met hers as he slid his finger inside her. He moaned loudly when his finger became engulfed in her hot, wet sex. She gasped as a second finger entered her. She began to open his belt and buttons, before slipping her hand down to his hardness. They both moaned into each other. Gendry thumb found her clit and he played with it, making her back arch off the table. She moved him faster and faster as he bit her nipples, groaning. Her body squirmed under him and contracted around his fingers, making him come hard. Gendry's head dropped onto her heaving chest, as they both tried in vain to catch their breath.

After, they cuddled up on the couch and watched Dawn of the Dead. They laughed as he played with her hair and she told him of Sansa's reaction to their new relationship.

"I didn't tell her that you said you loved me or any of that crap... don't worry." She said.

"Why would I worry about that?" he asked, confused.

"Cos'... ya know. You might want to take it back. It was an 'I just shot my load' I love you."

Gendry sat up and looked her in the eye, his brow furrowed.

"An ' . .Load' I love you! Where the fuck do you get this stuff?" he asked, amused.

Arya shrugged. Gendry shuck his head.

"You're a strange woman, Stark. But I love you anyway." He said, as he relaxed back on the couch.

"Listen tool... saying you love someone after an orgasm is not reliable. Everyone knows..."

"Do they?" he asked sarcastically. "I didn't, but I will tell you another time if you want, not after sex stuff, if it will make you feel better." He smiled.

"Oh, I don't care, Waters... but my nipple is starting to feel used."

"Your nipple is a bit of a smart arse."

It was Arya's turn to smile. "Leave her alone. She has a piece of metal impaling her... and some dude keeps biting her. She has the right to be a bit grouchy."

"You're right... she has had a tough time. I'll apologise... maybe we should kiss and make up, I don't like fighting."

Arya tore off her top quickly. "You should do it now." Arya breathed before smiling. "She's waiting."