Chapter 9
Jon was surprised by Lady Catelyn's strength as she struggled against him.
He had no intention of hurting her, despite the throbbing on his temple as a result of the wallop from her remote control - a lucky strike while he was still disentangling himself from Sansa. As soon as he was out from under Sansa, he had Lady Catelyn restrained and on the floor. He still held her there, but not with enough pressure to hurt her. However, that did nothing to silence her vicious mouth. The diatribe of abuse continued, "whore, bastard, whore."
Jon couldn't have cared less what Catelyn Stark said or thought of him, but he had to stop this for Sansa's sake. He had tried to order Sansa out of the room, but she seemed to be rooted to the spot. Jon wasn't even sure if Sansa had heard anything he had said to her. She stood there, glorious naked, her hair dishevelled, sobbing and wringing her hands together.
"Sansa. Please get dressed and get Gendry." He repeated calmly and authoritatively. Unfortunately, although Sansa was not listening to him, her mother was,
"Get out whore! Get out of my sight! You should have married Joffrey like your father wanted and instead you're fucking that bastard! It's your fault your father is dead. It's all your fault. Whore!"
Jon had to shut her up. He placed a knee on Catelyn's bony back, freeing up one of his hands. There was more chance he would injure her like this, or more likely that she would injury herself as she struggled against him, but he needed one hand to clamp her evil mouth shut.
"Don't listen to her Sansa. Get dressed and get Gendry."
"I couldn't marry him! He beat me mother, he beat me!" Sansa wailed.
Jon had never heard any of this before, where had he been? But this wasn't the time or the place to discuss it. He could hear Catelyn's muffled cries of "Whore!" even under his hand.
"Sansa listen to me…"
He was interrupted by Gendry running into the room. He had never been so glad to see a naked man in his life.
"Find something to gag her with." Jon hadn't intended it to, but it came out as a barked order.
Gendry was immediately crouched down beside him and, between the two of them; they had Lady Catelyn securely gagged in moments. She only managed to yell part of her new favourite word at Sansa, but it was still enough for Gendry to get the gist of what had happened, that and the fact that Jon still had an obviously used condom attached to him. Gendry took over from Jon, holding Lady Catelyn down as Jon surreptitiously attended to himself.
Arya was trying to comfort Sansa, but she was inconsolable, at least she seemed to be until Jon wrapped her in a robe and held her. He was able to stem her sobs with gentle kisses and whispered words as he had done so often before.
Gendry caught Arya's eye. The look that he gave her wordlessly communicated "I told you so."
Arya put on a robe too and crouched down beside her mother, intending to try and calm her, but the sight of the Gendry and Arya running in, naked and obviously together, had only enraged Lady Catelyn more. Her eyes rolled wildly as she struggled to scream new obscenities at Arya. The gag only muffled her words, her feelings still patently obvious. Arya sat stock still at first, just staring at her mother, but when she hugged herself and started rocking gently, Gendry knew he had to make something happen.
"Jon, we need to get a doctor and get the girls out of here."
Jon gave himself a shake, pulling away from Sansa and taking control of the situation again. Arya and Sansa were sent to phone Dr Luwin. Once Jon and Gendry had the girls out of earshot they were better able to deal with Catelyn.
Gendry got Lady Catelyn to her feet with as little force as he could and attempted to sit her on a bench. But she held her body rigid, refusing to sit, still trying to scream and curse them both. Jon let Gendry deal with her, while he sat down on the nearest bench, ran his hands through his hair and took a deep breath. He looked squarely at the woman who he had once thought to be his step mother.
"Listen to me Catelyn." Gendry pulled her upright and pointed her toward Jon, so that she had no alternative but to listen to him.
"We can do this one of two ways. You can calm down, come with us quietly and have a cup of tea while we wait for Dr Luwin or if you keep struggling, Lord Baratheon will keep hold of you until Dr Luwin gets here. The choice is yours."
She nodded and stopped struggling.
"Remove the gag." Gendry pulled it out, as gently as he could. As soon as she had the opportunity, she shrieked "I wish you were dead you Bast…" Gendry got the gag back on before she could finish.
Jon sighed. "Well, it looks like we'll have a long wait."
Dr Luwin sedated Lady Catelyn and then, at her own request, gave Sansa something to calm her nerves. He explained to them all that, now Lady Catelyn had attacked Jon and Sansa, as her Doctor, he had to act for Catelyn's own safety. She would be sectioned and assessed and then they could then find somewhere appropriate for her to live. He made it clear that somewhere would not be Winterfell. Sansa's half hearted pleas to be allowed to keep her mother at home, were politely dismissed.
Once Lady Catelyn was taken away in an ambulance and everyone was sat around the kitchen table drinking tea, Dr Luwin began dispensing his sagely advice.
"Sansa, you need help to run this place and don't bother telling me you're coping. Coping is not enough dear." He turned to Jon and Arya, "Did she tell you two more members of staff resigned last month?"
Sansa looked wearily embarrassed, but Jon squeezed her hand reassuringly, their affection for each other no longer hidden. "We've haven't had a chance to discuss business yet Doctor."
"I hope that, since Lady Catelyn is…no longer here, some staff may well feel able to return. As your mother will not be back Sansa, I suggest you find something else to occupy your time, for it will be a big change."
"Yes Doctor. Do you mind if I go up to bed? I am really getting very sleepy."
"Of course you must go. Sleep is a great healer and you must remember – none of this is your fault. None of it."
Sansa smiled sadly, but did not answer.
"I'll come with you" Arya said, rising with her sister.
Jon walked them to the door. He gave Sansa a chaste kiss and a whispered promise to come to her soon, before returning to the table, to the Doctor and Gendry.
"Jon, you'll need to keep an eye on Sansa. She blames herself, when we all know there was nothing anyone could have done and Sansa certainly could not have done any more." The all nodded their heads in agreement. "But it's not right, a young woman being all alone up here."
"A beautiful young woman" Gendry decided to add, hoping Jon would take the unsubtle hint.
"Yes quite." The Doctor agreed, giving Gendry a sideways glance.
"Can we ask you a question Doctor?" Jon looked from Gendry to the Doctor and back.
"Of course." Dr Luwin agreed.
"In her rantings, Catelyn kept referring to Gendry here as Robert or Lord Baratheon and spoke as if he were a friend of Ned's. It was said consistently and I do believe she thought Gendry was someone from her past. We wondered if you might know who this Lord Robert Baratheon was?"
Dr Luwin took off his glasses and gave Gendry a long, hard look, "Now you come to mention it, he does look remarkably like one of Eddard's friends. I only met the man a few times, but I recall they seemed to have been boyhood chums, who enlisted together I think. Perhaps The Regimental records might reveal something? Why don't you have a look at some of Eddard's old photo albums too? Do you not know anything about that name Gendry? Perhaps your father knew this Lord Baratheon too?"
"I wish I could ask him Doctor, but I don't know who my father was, there's not even a name on my birth certificate" It pained Gendry to have to admit this, but Jon could easily find out if he wanted to access his service records and the Doctor seemed to genuinely want to help.
"Were, there's a mystery to be solved." The Doctor mused, putting his glasses back on. "Come to think on it, I recall that Baratheon chap was sweet on your mother Jon. Might be there's a right old story there. Let me know if you find anything out will you?"
"Will do." Jon clasped the Doctor's shoulder in thanks.
Gendry thought miserably that he probably wouldn't be able to do much about it. It was alright talking about searching The Regiment's records and the Stark family photo albums, but Gendry would be back overseas in another couple of weeks and that would be the end of that.
The Doctor stood up to go. The other two men shook his hand. Jon pulled The Doctor to the side for a final word at the back door. Gendry took the hint and left them alone.
"You have been a loyal friend as well as a Doctor to this family for years" Jon spoke quietly and deliberately. There was obviously something else preying on his mind.
The old man smiled. "Yes, I saw the rest of them into the world and I was the first one to see you when you arrived, albeit in a different way than the others."
"I would like to ask your advice on something…" Jon hesitated, searching for the right way to put this, for there certainly was no easy way to say it, "…although Sansa is my cousin, we were never close as children, her mother saw to that. But now I…I…"
Dr Luwin held up his hand, stopping Jon's hesitant confession, "The whole of Winterfell village knows that Sansa stockpiles condoms before your arrival and that you share a room when you are here."
Jon's jaw dropped open.
"Oh come on, Jon, you think kissing cousins up at The Castle would go un-noticed around these parts. I heard years ago, from Mrs Mordane at the chemist's shop, that the…ah…nature of your relationship changed when Rickon left to enlist."
Jon was utterly speechless. All this time, all these years of hiding and everyone had known all along. It seemed as if the Doctor really did mean everyone.
"Now her ladyship is out of the way, I think everyone is looking forward to a fresh start at The Castle and I daresay a wedding in the spring. Perhaps even two, from the look of Arya and that Baratheon chap."
"Waters, his name is Gendry Waters." Jon corrected the Doctor.
"Of course it is. Silly me." Dr Luwin picked up his bag. "Now remember what I said about Sansa. She needs all the support she can get right now. She needs something to occupy her now her mother's not here, otherwise I fear she will feel that she is no longer useful and that will lead to unhappiness for you all."
"Yes, Doctor Luwin, I have been thinking along similar lines myself."
"A new baby is always good in a family. Takes everyone's mind of their troubles."
"A baby?" Jon echoed slowly, unsteadily, warily. "Would that be alright…with us being cousins."
"Oh, I think young, healthy folk like you and Sansa should be fine and it's not as if there is any madness on the Stark side of the family." The Doctor opened the back door. "I'll be in touch and you know where I am if you have any other questions." Then he was off out into the moonlit snow.
Jon watched him leave; feeling as if the axis of the world had just shifted under his feet.
Any other questions? Jon suspected that Dr Luwin knew a great deal more than he had let on this night, but there would be time for more questions later. It had been a hell of a day and it wasn't over yet. He needed to see Sansa and ask her a few questions of his own. He took the stairs three at a time.
Christmas Eve. Three days later.
"It's nearly midnight. Do you want your Christmas present now?"
Gendry and Arya were alone in the drawing room. Jon and Sansa had gone to bed hours before, but Gendry and Arya had stayed up, talking and really getting to know each other as the snow fell outside, a real log fire burned in the fireplace and the lights of the Christmas tree twinkled in the corner.
"Did you really get me one?" Arya asked with a groan.
"Of course."
"Oh…" there was a long pause, "So that's why you went down to the village today. But I haven't got you anything."
He smiled and hugged her tighter, "Don't worry, I didn't expect you to. You didn't even know I was coming."
She raised her eyebrows and grinned. "I always know you're your coming now though."
He laughed and kissed her briefly before getting up and pulling her towards the door.
"Is this Christmas present what I think it is?" she asked as he tugged her hand.
"I dunno, depends on what you think it is."
"Hot sex?"
"No, it's not that! But you can have that too, if you want." He waggled his eyebrows at her as they walked up the stairs side by side.
"Hmm. I dunno, I'll need to think about that…" she said, stopping, crossing her arms and trying to keep her face straight.
He stepped down a few steps behind her and pinched her arse. She yelped. He did again.
"Up those stairs now."
With another yelp, she started running. "My room!" he yelled after her, allowing her a head start before he gave chase.
She was already sprawled on the four poster bed when he got to the room. For once he didn't pounce on her. Instead he went to his battered rucksack, unzipped it, slipped something in his back pocket and took out a bundled up T shirt.
"I'm sorry it's not properly wrapped, but I think you'll like it anyway."
She looked at it. "What's this?"
"Open it," he grinned.
She did and squealed "Oh Gendry!" as she unwrapped Needle. "I thought I'd never see it again," she said excitedly as she started swinging the long blade through the air.
"You had it all this time and you never told me?"
He shrugged, "I picked it up on the rig, but I knew as long as I had it, I had an excuse to see you again." He muttered, embarrassed by having to admit it.
"Oh thank you!" She kneeled up on the bed and flung her arms around his neck. He, warily, tried to keep his eye on the knife. "Can you…err...put that down first. You're making me nervous."
She laughed and placed it on the bedside table.
"That was such a good present, I feel even worse for not getting you anything."
"Well, I've got something else that you could give to me," he rubbed his hands down her back quickly, nervously. So much was riding on this.
"Hmm?" she licked her lips, intrigued, wondering if he was meaning sexy lingerie.
He pulled an oblong, cellophane wrapped box from the back pocket of his jeans.
"A pregnancy testing kit?" she gulped, staring at it, not wanting to touch it.
"Yes. I walked down to the chemist and bought it today. I need to know Arya. Goddamn it, we need to know." He put it back in his pocket, put his hands on her bottom and lifted her up. She automatically wrapped her legs around his waist as he walked her backwards towards the bathroom.
When they got there, he put her down and unwrapped the cellophane while she stood and watched. When he was done, he handed the stick to her.
"What do I do with it?"
"Pee on it I suppose. Wait and I'll read the instructions."
But now she didn't want to wait. So she sat on the toilet and concentrated. God, she was too nervous to pee.
He was standing, watching her intently, instructions now hanging, forgotten from his fingers. That didn't help at all.
"Don't look."
He laughed. "That line didn't work the first time Arya and it's not going to work now."
"Oh yeah….I forgot... Perv."
They both laughed.
He crouched down in front of her and kissed her. "You had me when you unzipped that boiler suit and slid my gun in your bra."
"I know." She smiled and kissed him back. "And you had me from the moment I saw those blue eyes of yours…although I admit I like the rest of the package too. A lot."
They hugged while she sat on the toilet. Eventually he said, "Right, are we going to do this?"
"We?"
"Just pee on the damn stick Arya."
She did and handed it back to him without looking at it. She finished and flushed and washed her hands, all with her back to him. Shit. She wanted to know and she didn't. This could change everything. Or nothing.
She turned around slowly. His face was calm, unreadable.
"Well?"
"Looks like Santa got us what we wanted!" He whooped. Her mouth dropped open.
"You're kidding me. Let me see it!" She grabbed the stick. But he was right. Everything had changed. In an instant. Just like that.
He gently took the stick from her limp fingers. "Are you not happy?"
She didn't know what she was. Shocked probably. She didn't react when he took her in his arms. Or even when he cradled her face in his hands and kissed her forehead, her eyelids, her cheeks, just as he had that first night in the hotel.
"I know it'll take a while to get our heads around this, but it'll be alright. We'll be alright." He whispered against her hair.
She was still for a minute before struggling to free herself from his arms, "It won't be alright when you fuck off and die on me!" she sobbed and ran from the bathroom, leaving him standing there, looking at the proof that he was going to be a father.
-o-
Arya was in the kitchen with Jon and Sansa. He'd gone in. They'd all looked up at him, as one, all Starks together, united and he was alone. Arya and Sansa were obviously both crying. Jon stood up and asked him, politely, but firmly to "Please wait in the drawing room and give us some time."
Gendry wasn't going to stand there and argue, when he had been dismissed like some insignificant child, but he'd say what he needed to before he went. He fixed his eyes on Arya, clenched his fists and said, "You never gave me a chance to say what I wanted to Arya. I never knew my father and I'm going to make damn sure I'm around for my child." She sniffed and turned away from him. Sansa shook her head at him and wrapped a projective arm around her sister's shoulder.
Jon repeated, "Can we have some time please?"
Gendry didn't have any option but to turn around and walk out. What the fuck did he do now? Hang around outside the kitchen door like some eavesdropper? Leave altogether, let Arya come after him? He took the easiest course of action and stomped off to wait in the drawing room, liked Jon had asked.
Half an hour later Jon came in, poured a couple of drinks, handed one to Gendry and then stood silently, swirling his whisky around his own glass. Gendry had been left alone by the Starks, during which time his resentment had gone from simmering to boiling. Bloody Starks. This was his baby and yet he had to sit and wait here for Jon to come and tell him how it was going to be. He wouldn't need much of an excuse to smack The Gaffer right now.
So he was taken off guard when Jon raised his glass, clinked it against Gendry's and, with a broad smile roared, "Congratulations!"
"So...so is she pleased? Is everything going to be ok?"
Jon dropped down in to one of the chairs opposite Gendry. "Well, I think she might have been a bit happier if you'd asked her to marry you…"
"Of course! I intended to, but she ran off before I had the chance." Now he said it, he realised himself that it sounded rather lame. He could have asked her in the kitchen, but he didn't want to do it in front of other people, in case she said no.
"Good. I suggest you do it sooner rather than later. Now, I've got a proposition for you."
Oh God. He didn't like the sound of this.
"I'm resigning from The Regiment." Gendry was taken aback. No-one resigned from the SAS. It was an honour to be invited to join. You served your time until you had to leave. But still, Jon looked rather happy about it.
"Sansa needs me here and…" The Gaffer paused and shrugged, "…I want to be here. With her."
"I see." Gendry muttered. Pleased for them both, but not really seeing what that had to do with him.
"Arya won't be going back to the rigs. I doubt they'd let her even if she wanted to now she's pregnant."
"Did she not want to?" He couldn't hide his surprise. He knew she loved her job.
As if reading his thoughts, Jon said, "yes, she loved her job, but she tells me she loves you more."
Arya had said that? That she loved him? She'd never told him.
"…so we discussed some things in the kitchen there and we have a proposal for you."
"We?" he echoed.
"Arya, Sansa and myself."
Gendry steeled himself for whatever was coming next.
"Look around you Gendry. Look at the size of this place, the grounds, the farms. You've only seen a fraction of it. This house should be full of kids, ringing with life and laughter, not rotting away while one person struggles to hold it together."
Gendry nodded, Jon was looking at the whisky in his glass again.
"So I've asked Sansa to marry me. Fortunately she said yes and together we intend to return this place to its former glory and, God willing, fill it with kids."
"Congratulations!"
"Thank you. And we need help. Arya wants to stay here and we all wonder if you would like to stay too?"
He was speechless.
"I know you're a career soldier and the thought of being tied down here probably doesn't appeal much, but Arya doesn't want you putting your life on the line any more and I'm sure we can all understand why." He gave Gendry a rueful smile. "Apart from that, the truth is, we need help, I need the help and Arya was right – I did say you were the best man I had."
Thinking Gendry's hesitation was due to his not wanting to accept, Jon continued, "of course there will be a very generous allowance and you can take your pick of the myriad jobs that need done here. I'm hoping we'll all muck in together. I know it will seem mundane compared to what we're both used to, at least to begin with, but I'm ready for a new challenge and I hope you are too."
Gendry's mouth might have been moving, but nothing was coming out.
"Look, you can take your time to think about it. Go and speak to Arya. The two of you need to make your decisions together and for God's sake ask her to marry you."
Gendry nodded.
"She's outside, taking a walk around the pool, waiting on you."
Gendry got up, as if he was in a trance and walked towards the kitchen. He picked up his jacket on the way out, not really listening as Sansa wished him good luck and only managing to mutter a short "congratulations" to her on his way.
He stopped as he closed the kitchen door behind him and took a look around; at the stars, the fairytale castle, the snow, the trees, everything sparkling in the moonlight. He was really going to be able to stay here with Arya. They would get married and raise their children here – surrounded by all this and cousins too.
She was waiting for him by the pool, watching.
When she saw him look over, she gave a cautious wave. He grinned and waved back. He had come home for Christmas and had no intention of ever leaving.
THE END
I had fun writing that although it turned out to be much longer than I originally intended! Hope you enjoyed reading it too. Now the last of the Christmas pudding has been scoffed, the Christmas tree is down and I don't want to see another turkey ever again. So I guess it's time to get back to The Reluctant Bride and that Lord's kiss…
