A/N:

Timeline: The barbeque took place in September and Arya and Gendry reunited in June. The last chapters explains: the immediate reaction of Ned, what convinced Jon to talk to Gendry, and what had been going on with Gendry during that time.

Arya: Sept.-June

Yoren: Sept. a week after the barbeque

Jon: June

Gendry: November/December-June

Without further ado….

GENDRY (cont.)

"What the hell is going on," Gendry asked incredulously as he took in the scene in front of him. Ruby was lying naked in his bed and moaning non-stop. She lay underneath the covers, which hid the other person.

When Ruby heard Gendry's voice, she jumped up.

"Gendry!" Shock colored her face as she wrapped the covers around herself and scooted against the headboard. "I—I—I," she stammered.

"I don't want to hear it, get dressed," he said in a firm tone.

Gendry walked over to the bed and yanked the cover off of the other person. Instantly, his anger boiled over when he saw who it was. Of course, it was her because literally fucking him wasn't enough. She wanted to fuck the people in his life too.

"Mel," his voice was low and threatening.

Slowly, she brushed her thumb across her mouth, and then licked it. "Sorry that I got started without you, but you took so long," she said, and then gestured to Ruby. "But, don't worry, I'm warmed her up pretty well for you."

"Get the fuck out," he demanded. She gave him a blank stare. "Get the fuck out!"

Frantically, he searched for her clothes on the floor, and then threw random articles of clothing at her.

"What is your problem?" Melisandre threw the clothes aside, sat up on the bed, and then crossed her legs. She folded her and placed them on her knees.

"You," he stated. "You are my problem. I was already stressed before you came along, and then you fucking multiplied it by ten."

"Gendry, you knew what you were getting into when you came to me," she interjected.

"No, I knew that there was a price to pay, but I didn't think it would be this high." Gendry aggressively raised his arm above his head to emphasize his point. "Shit, I thought you were going to ask for me to do a few favors not devote my life to Stannis and you."

"I may have set the terms, but you agreed to them—no one forced you to."

"Yeah, because I was desperate. I had already made the deal with you and didn't want to go back on it," he explained. "You had already paid my bills for me and I had no way to pay you back without ending up in the situation I'd been trying to avoid."

Melisandre pulled on her pants, and then her shirt as she spoke. "Why now?"

"What?"

"Why are you now voicing your anger and frustration? Why not last week or the week before that? What about me fucking Ruby set you off?" She threw a glance to the woman behind her as she buttoned up her shirt.

"Besides the fact that you're fucking her in my bed," Gendry asked in disbelief. "Because you taint everything you touch. I don't care who Ruby fucks, but you…you are a parasite: a fucking leech. You feed off of any and everyone only for you benefit and leave them nothing in return. Oh, you may give material things, but you leave the person feeling less than emotionally than before you met them and I don't think that's a trade off that anyone wants."

"Is that how you really feel," Melisandre asked. Her demeanor was defiant, but Gendry could tell he hit a nerve.

"Yes," he barked. "And, you're not as half as smart as you think, Mel. Don't think I don't know you're game: you think that by fucking me you can control me and make me do whatever you want. You're trying to insert your presence in every facet of my life that I can't and won't try to escape your influence, but you're too late, I'm immune. Like I said, I only agreed to this deal because I was broke and you already had paid my bills." Gendry ran a hand through his hair. "So, you want to know why now? Because you never know when to stop, Mel. You never stop scheming. You may have had a passing interest in Ruby, but you only fucked her to get to me. You used her to keep me in line."

"Well—"

"Get out," he demanded again. "I don't want to look at you, let alone hear your voice. Leave."

Melisandre looked furious, but did as Gendry told her to. He didn't move again until he heard the front door close.

"What the hell what you thinking," Gendry asked as he rapidly tapped his forehead. He searched for her clothes on the floor, and then handed it to Ruby when he found them. "In my bed to top it all off."

Nervously, Ruby swallowed.

"I—I wasn't," she admitted.

"No, seriously, what were you thinking," he repeated. "And to sleep with some woman you don't even know—that's not like you."

"I do know her," she whispered.

"What did you say?"

"I do know her." Ruby insecurely wrapped her arms around her torso after she put on her shirt. "I met her a couple of months ago at the gym. She was really nice and we got along great. A couple of times we went out for drinks and dinner."

Gendry's stomach dropped.

"Were you two…dating?" Although he hadn't seen Ruby in years, he believed that she was straight unless she had been in the closet or something while they came together, or a later in life realization.

"Um…no," she said. "At first, it was just a platonic thing. Well, it had been a platonic thing until tonight," her face reddening at her confession. "For a while now, I've been kind of curious about being with a woman. I still love men, but I'm a little more…open minded about sexuality and relationships." Ruby brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "Dinners started out as friendly and increasingly became a little too friendly to full blown flirting, but nothing ever happened."

"Until tonight," Gendry stated.

"Until tonight," she confirmed. "I'm sorry. What I did was flat out inappropriate and couldn't tell you what the hell I was thinking

"Fucking Mel!" Gendry sat on the bed and put his head in his hands.

"She used me, didn't she?" He heard Ruby sniffling behind him.

"Ruby," Gendry sighed.

"Didn't she?"

"Yeah," he admitted.

"My friends never liked Mel, but I told them that they were wrong about her," Ruby confided. "My friends could see right through her, but I was too blinded by the way she made me feel…a way I hadn't felt since we broke up."

Gendry held Ruby as she cried in his arms. "Everything will be okay," he mumbled into her hair.

"Oh, turn that frown upside down," Melisandre, grinned.

Gendry glared at her as he sat down.

"I'm surprised you showed up," she said before leaning forward to get closer to him. Without thinking about it, Gendry leaned back to get away from her.

"I am too," he admitted. He had been avoiding her calls for two days.

"So…about our deal?"

"We are still on," he reluctantly stated. "But, you leave Ruby out of this; you only deal with me. If I think you are involving her or anyone else in our agreement, I will break our deal, are we clear?"

"Crystal," she said in a clipped tone. "But, how will you repay your debt?"

"You said that Robert Baratheon's sons inherit Baratheon Industries, right?" Melisandre shook her head yes. "Well, I'm assuming that goes for his estate as well." The woman narrowed her eyes at his question. "There's your answer."

"I know you think that I'm a monster, but I merely satisfied a curiosity of Ruby's," Melisandre stated randomly.

"Yeah, and while you did, you used her to get to me," he shot back. "I never thought that you were into women, but now that I think about it, it doesn't surprise me."

Melisandre laughed. "I've been known to eat the box on an occasion or two," she shrugged. "But, that wasn't the only thing I did."

"Please spare me the details."

"Gendry, are you disgusted by the idea of two women having sex," she said in an admonishing tone. "I would think that you were above that type of thinking."

Gendry gave her a dismissive look. "No, I'm disgusted by you having sex with anyone in order for you to use them to get to someone else."

"So, that means you weren't disgusted having sex with me?"

"No, I was," he answered. "But, I was running from myself; I was running from my issues. I'm not anymore." Gendry got up, preparing to leave and said, "Leave Ruby alone, I mean it."

"Scouts honor," she promised. "You know, although she was screaming my name, she was thinking of you; she's always thinking of you."

Gendry threw a few pieces of popcorn in his mouth, and then sipped his drink. Impatiently, he looked at his watch.

"Ruby, what is taking so long?"

Although Gendry was still a bit miffed at Ruby about the Melisandre scandal, he was deeply sympathetic for her as well. She had been trying to be true to herself and someone took advantage of that. He couldn't imagine how awfully that had been for her. Ruby had been genuinely interested in Melisandre.

"Ruby," he called out again.

Gendry got up and looked for his ex-girlfriend. He found her staring in the mirror at herself. She looked to be lost in a daze.

"Ruby," Gendry said gently this time. "Is everything okay?"

Startled, she faced him. "What? Oh yeah. Why do you ask?"

"I was calling your name and you didn't answer," he explained.

"I just get lost in my thoughts from time to time," she stated, brushing off his concern. "Nothing to worry about."

Ruby grabbed his arm and pulled him into the living room. She pushed play on the remote and took the popcorn from Gendry. They watched the movie in companionable silence. Occasionally, Gendry would steal a glance at her; he was worried about Ruby. The way she had been looking at herself in the mirror was unsettling to him. When she was around others, Ruby was fine or appeared to be fine. But, whenever he saw her by herself, he saw a different, darker side to her.

As the credits rolled, Ruby muted the credit. She was quiet for a moment before speaking.

"Have you ever thought about us and where we would be if we'd stayed together," she asked randomly.

"When we first broke up, it was all I thought about," Gendry admitted. "But, at the same time, I don't think we were meant to get married and have kids. We were great together, but our relationship seemed more like a friendship than two people who were in love." Ruby nodded her head in agreement. "I'll admit, I thought about it again when we bumped into each other again a while ago, but when we started to hang out again, all I saw was how much we were great friends. But, it made me think about my life and how you were the only relationship I had ever been in. It made me think about marriage and kids—I want that."

"But, you haven't met her yet," she guessed.

"No," he said as if figuring something out the first time. "I met her years ago, but the timing wasn't right."

"And now?"

Blue eyes met brown eyes. "We both had some growing up to do."

Since the night Gendry had caught Ruby and Melisandre in bed together, he hadn't slept in his bed. He now claimed the couch as his bed. There was a perfectly fine one back in King's Landing, but that place just reminded him too much of Melisandre. Sure, she had been at his place and took claim on his bed, but as long as he didn't lie in that bed, he was fine with being in Winterfell. He felt home.

School wasn't as stressful for him as it had been, but he still found himself overwhelmed. He didn't want to be there; that place was of no interest to him. He was happy to only have a few weeks left, and then get out of that place for good.

Tiredly, Gendry walked up the stairs and dragged himself to his front door. As he was about to put his key in the lock, the door was opened.

"Hey, Gendry, "Hot Pie said in an odd tone. "You have a visitor."

Gendry looked up and saw Jon wipe his hands on his pants as he walked out of the bathroom.

"What are you doing here," Gendry's voice became defensive.

Jon held his hands up.

"I know you have every reason to hate me," Jon began. "But, I came here to apologize about what happened last year. And I wanted to talk."

It took all of Gendry's might to fight back a sarcastic response about how he didn't let him talk back then.

"Is that okay with you?"

Gendry harshly rubbed his face.

"Sure…fine…whatever," he said as he dropped his book bag by the door. He didn't have the energy to conjure up those negative emotions that he held for Jon and the way he treated him that day.

Jon sat on the loveseat and Gendry sat on the arm of a single person chair with his arms crossed.

"Say what you have to say."

"Gendry, there aren't words to adequately describe how awful I feel about that day," Jon began. "In my mind, I'd been protecting Arya, but in reality, I was subconsciously mad at myself because I believe that I had failed Arya. I thought that if I made you pay for taking 'advantage' of her then it would make up for me not being there," he admitted. "I always thought that I'd be around when boys started to take interest in her and would protect her, but I wasn't. And then, when I found out about that night in addition to the fact that I knew how old you were, it just set me off. I thought you were some pervert that preyed on young, vulnerable girls without ever trying to hear the full story or knowing nothing about you. It didn't matter what anyone said to me, they were wrong and I was right—I had made your situation with Arya about me and didn't give you a chance. For that, I sincerely apologize." Jon looked truly remorseful for his actions. "You didn't deserve that; not at all. It took my wife slapping some sense into for me to understand that you aren't a bad guy and you never were; it was just a case of unfortunate timing. You loved Arya then and you love her now. I was just the jackass who made it about himself."

"You know, that's a really great apology and all, but you fucking put me in the hospital," Gendry fumed. "I had a broken ribcage. I had to take off of work and made a deal with a Satan just so I wouldn't end up in debt so I could pay my medical bills and rent. So, I've had a few shitty months, and I don't want to hear your apology if it's just about easing your guilt and making yourself feel better."

"I don't want to ease me guilt," Jon refuted. "I want to make things right with you. Tell me where can I start or how I can do that."

Gendry shrugged, and then got up to get a beer out of the refrigerator. He grabbed one for Jon as well.

"You said that you made a deal with someone to get out of debt," Jon asked. "What was it?"

"I'm handling it," Gendry said as he handed the dark haired man a beer.

"You wouldn't have been in that situation if it weren't for me," Jon reasoned. "The least I can do is help you. Tell me what I can do. I honestly want to make this right."

Gendry wrote the cost of his deal on a piece of paper and handed it to Jon. The man looked at the figure and made a deep whistle.

"Consider it done," he replied.

"You're not going to ask why it's that high?"

Jon bit his lip. "I didn't want to push my luck."

"Well, there is something someone wants me to do that I only have the power to do. They invested some money in me that I didn't ask for, but it was apart of the deal," Gendry explained.

"Is it illegal," Jon inquired.

"No," Gendry immediately denied. "It's perfectly legal, but they need me specifically to execute their plan."

"And paying this," Jon pointed to the number on the paper. "Gets you out of the deal?"

"Yes."

Jon looked at the piece of paper again. He couldn't fathom what deal Gendry had made that made someone invest this much money in him, in addition, to paying his medical fees and rent. Those other things were five times the amount Jon believed Gendry initially had to pay.

"As I said earlier, consider it done," Jon said. He stared at Gendry for a moment, and then got up to leave.

As he was walking to the door, Gendry spoke, "How is she doing? Arya, I mean?"

"She's hurting, but afraid to show it. It's her fear of being vulnerable; she thinks that letting someone see your pain and letting them in will hurt her, so she closes herself off and tries to control everything. " It was obvious to Gendry that Jon was implying that Arya was hurting over him; that her guarded nature had turned against her. "You know her, she'll pretend to be strong even if it kills her. And that's what it was doing?"

"And now?"

"Now, she's letting people in, just a little bit," Jon, said. "Not me, though. She never forgave me for the way I treated you that day and how I reacted whenever your name was mentioned. But, Gendry, she knows that she's wrong and, I don't mean to pry or push you to her, but you would know that if you spoke to her."

"Honestly, I don't even know where to start," Gendry said. Jon saw the parallels between him and the other man. "I spend the first few months so angry at her and the next few months trying to avoid dealing with her."

"Start with her," Jon stated simply. "I know you are upset with her, but the only way to resolve your issues with her is to talk to her."

For the last few days, Ruby hadn't been feeling well; she had caught a bad case of food poisoning, and asked Gendry could he pick Polly up from school. Gendry happily said yes and had spent time talking with Polly as he drove her home from school. The little girl was smart as a whip and funny too. She wasn't one of those kids who were wise beyond their years, but a kid who saw how weird the world was and commented on it.

Gendry definitely wanted kids and he wanted one like Polly. He wanted at least two and didn't really care if it was a boy or a girl.

When they arrived at the apartment, Gendry unbuckled her from her car seat, and then took the car seat out of the car. Gendry was tired and wanted to take the elevator, but Polly loved running up the stairs even though Ruby warned her a million times not to do it.

"Polly, wait for me," Gendry said as he held the railing while he walked up the stares.

"You walk too slow," she replied back. Gendry chuckled.

"I know, but can you please slow down?" There were seven flights of stairs; Gendry didn't know why he let her talk him into doing this.

"Okay," she sighed.

When they reached the seventh floor, Gendry opened the door and she ran into the hallway and to her and her mother's apartment door.

"Open it, open it," she begged as she yanked on his shirt. He could tell that she missed her mother and wanted to tell Ruby all about her day…in toddler speak, of course.

Gendry opened the door with the key Ruby had given him a few days ago when she asked him to pick up Polly. As Gendry turned the doorknob, Polly pushed the door open and ran into the apartment.

"Mommy," she yelled. "Mommy!"

Polly ran to her mother's room, and then her own room and couldn't find her mother.

"Mommy!" She then banged on the bathroom door when she saw that it was closed.

There was no answer.

Gendry heard the water running and knocked on the door.

"Hey Ruby, your mini-me is impatient to see you," he said. "Hurry up in there."

Fifteen minutes later, Ruby still hadn't emerged.

"Ruby," Gendry called again as he knocked on the door. He had managed to keep Polly occupied with promises of her mother exiting the shower shortly. "Ruby."

Gendry turned the handle and saw that the door was unlocked. When he opened the door, he gasped at what he saw.

"Ruby!" Ruby was laying in the tub with her arm draped over the edge. A pool of blood had gathered on the floor over spot underneath her arm. Her body was wrinkly from all of the hours under the running water.

'Ruby killed herself,' Gendry thought. 'She committed suicide."

Gendry didn't get much time to process what had happened when he heard foot steps running towards the door.

"Mommy!"

Abruptly, Gendry got up and stepped outside of the bathroom and hurriedly closed the door behind himself.

"I want to see mommy," she demanded. Polly smiled, but he could tell that the little girl was frustrated.

"You can't see mommy right now," Gendry said as he tried to keep his tone even. He fought back the tears as he realized that Polly would never see her mother alive again.

"I want to see mommy," she demanded again. This time her smile disappeared.

Gendry picked up the little girl and she began to cry as he walked away from the bathroom door.

"I want to see my mommy," she angrily cried and Gendry's heart broke in that moment. Tears streamed down his face as he grabbed a bag with Polly's toys in it as well as her car seat, and then exited the apartment. Hot tears fell on his shoulder as Polly cried her heart out.

After he settled Polly in his car, he called the police.

ARYA

Choked sobs escaped form Gendry as he recounted the story of how he found Ruby and the devastation it brought Polly when she found out her mother was never coming back.

"Her grandmother says that Polly won't eat and sleeps all of the time," Gendry said as he wiped his face. His eyes were bloodshot red. "Even when she sleeps, she has nightmares."

Arya rubbed Gendry's back to calm him. Eventually, his sobs subsided.

Gendry looked like he hadn't slept in days or showered for that matter.

Suddenly, Arya got up and pulled one of Gendry's arms to indicate that she wanted him to follow her. She led him to the bathroom and turned on the shower. Without asking, she pulled off Gendry's shirt and he helped her by lifting up his arms. She then unbuckled and unzipped his pants, but stopped there. He could do the rest himself. Arya was about to leave to give Gendry some privacy when he deposed of his pants and underwear in front of her. As he was about to step in the shower, he abruptly stopped.

"I know, Gendry," Arya said supportively. "But, you need to wash up." She then turned off the shower. "You don't even need to go in there; you can wash up using the sink."

Gendry shook his head no, and then stepped into the shower and turned the water back on.

"I'll be fine," he reassured.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

Arya then left Gendry and went into the kitchen. She warmed up some left over dinner from earlier that night and fixed some chamomile tea. As she was getting ready to get Gendry out of the shower, he walked into the kitchen and sat at the island.

"Funny how I've never been here before, but I seem to have clothes here," Gendry observed. "At least, I've solved the mystery of my missing clothes."

When Arya looked at Gendry, she didn't see any malice, but a playful smile on his lips. She sat his food and tea in front of him.

"This shirt looks more worn than the last time I saw it," he noted as he looked at the shirt he was wearing.

"Well, that's because I sleep in that shirt." Gendry took a bit of his food and his taste buds watered at the various flavors.

"That's funny because I wear your shirt to bed at night too." Arya playfully shoved Gendry's head. "What? I do!"

Arya chuckled. "As if you could fit my clothes. Perhaps, one of your biceps."

The petite woman sat next to the much larger man.

"How are you feeling," she asked.

"A little better." Gendry stuffed some more food in his mouth. "But, Ruby's death is still fresh, you know. And I found her. That's going to take a while to get over."

"Well, anytime you need me, I'm here for you," Arya offered.

"I know."

Arya could tell that Gendry was tired and led him upstairs into her room. She pulled back the covered, puffed the pillows, and then patted the bed for Gendry to lie down.

"Why am I sleeping in your room?" Gendry sat on the bed, and then pulled the covers over his body. Arya tucked him in.

"This is the best bed in the house. Once you fall asleep, you fall into a deep, magnificent coma," she said, "I promise you, you'll thank me in the morning."

As Arya walked away from the bed, Gendry called out to her. "Stay with me."

"Gendry."

"Stay with me," he repeated.

Arya put on a pair of shorts and a long sleeved shirt. She turned off the lights, and then lay on top of the covers and faced away from Gendry.

Loud enough for her to hear, Gendry said, "I've missed you, Arry."

"I've missed you too, stupid."

As Arya chewed on her eggs, she kept stealing glances at Gendry.

"What?" Gendry bit into his English muffin, and then took a sip of his orange juice.

"I just can't believe you slept with that nineteen year or girl", Arya said. "Or even Melisandre, for that matter." She didn't appear to be judging him, but rather, disbelieving.

"Me either," he admitted. "There is a part of me disgusted with myself. Not about Autumn, but about Mel." He took another sip of his orange juice. "That relationship was just so fucked up and twisted and, yet; I continued to have sex with her."

"Why," Arya inquired.

"I don't know," Gendry sighed. "A variety of reasons: she was familiar, I was both angry and trying to get over you, trying to ignore my problems, she was there—the list goes on. But, at the end of the day, I think I began to lose sight of who I was…that I started to become a person that wasn't me." He took a deep breath. "When I reconnected with Ruby again, I felt like the old me again. I felt like a person who wasn't so consumed with anger and doing things he didn't want to in order to pay off a debt."

Arya played with her eggs on her plate. "Did you want to be with her again?"

Gendry nodded his head. "No. She just reminded me of who I once was, but that was all."

"I'm sorry, Gendry," Arya said. "I'm sorry for my behavior months ago. I was completely wrong to treat like that and I understand why you wanted nothing to do with me. No one has a right to be treated like that especially when they are in a position that you were in." Arya looked truly remorseful about her actions that night. "I was just thinking about myself and my feelings and not you and your reality."

"And why were you mad?"

"Because I was being stupid," she stated. "I equated you leaving when my father dismissed you to you leave when you left to be a camp counselor at Wholistic Core," Arya explained. "But, in both occasions, you were exactly right to leave. As much as you tried to fight it, you were eventually going to break; it was going to happen. And I hadn't been helping matters either because I was the one chipping at your resolved. But, most importantly, you were trying to find someone where you fit in and, at the time, you felt that there was your best option. Gods, and we saw how my family reacted, you would be in prison right now if you hadn't made that choice." Gendry shuddered at the thought. "And, as you said back in September, my father had dismissed you. He was fucking pissed off and wanted to kill you, but at the same time trying to see reason in the situation—it was all sorts of a cluster fuck. And I shouldn't have made that about my feelings and me. I was being selfish and couldn't see the difficult situation I had put you in while we were at camp together."

"Arya, it wasn't all you," Gendry reasoned.

"No, but it was mostly me." Arya dared Gendry to deny that fact.

"True," he relented. Gendry was about to speak when Arya then said:

"And don't play the age card either," she warned. "You know exactly what I'm talking about 'but, I was should have known better, I was older,'" she mocked.

"Fine." Gendry shook his head and smiled at her. "And I was apologize for keeping you waiting for an answer for so long. "Whether I wanted to be with you or not, I should've give you an answer soon rather than making you wait nine—ten months."

"Shit happens." Arya shrugged.

She called off of work for the day.

Arya didn't know when she was going to see Gendry again, but when she had, it was a bittersweet moment. It was great to see his face, but she saw that he was troubled as well. In order to get some true privacy, they went back to her place and he told her everything. He told her about the broken bones, being unable to work, bills adding up and having to make a tough decision.

Many things troubled him, but Ruby bothered him that most, especially since she left a daughter behind and he knew the pain of losing a parent even if he couldn't remember his own mom that well. Polly was such a sweet girl and that day haunted his dreams.

They spend the whole day talking and eating. A surplus amount of junk food was ordered and they pigged out without a care in the world. Arya caught him with work and revealed that she had slept with Francisco. Gendry was a little jealous, but didn't make a big deal of it. He told her about how his first full semester in college was and that he enjoyed it, but college life wasn't for him. He preferred to work on cars and didn't mind that he would never own his own business.

There was a best of seven foot wrestling series, which there were many handicaps on Gendry to make the fight "fair". Arya and Gendry may have been adults, but they felt like kids—spending the whole day doing nothing and having fun.

It was the first time in months that they felt peace.

When Arya entered the bathroom, she saw Gendry on the tub.

"Care if I join you?" She braced herself against the wall and looked down at him.

Gendry leaned forward and felt Arya as she slipped in behind him. Comfortably, he settled against her chest.

"Besides my mother, I never really lost anyone before," Gendry mumbled. His fingers slowly moved back and forth on Arya's knee. "I was so young when she died, I barely remember her. I have so memories, but all I really felt and feel is longing; the loss of something I never had a chance to really appreciate," he voiced his thoughts. "With Ruby, she was the only serious relationship I ever been in. As a matter of fact, she was the only relationship I'd been in." At this revelation, Arya's stomach dropped. "I was in love with her once upon a time and I still care for her deeply, so to lose her…to find her the way I did and for her daughter to be there," he trailed off. Arya took Gendry's face in her hand and turned his towards her. She kissed his tear stained checks; she wanted to kiss his pain away.

They stayed that way for hours.

There were weirder places to fall asleep.

Francisco snapped his fingers three times in succession.

"You better work it, girl," he encouraged. Arya gave Francisco a puzzled expressed in response. He had gotten cleared for work the week before.

"What are you talking about," she said as she looked at her friend strangely.

"You know what I'm talking about," he said suggestively. Ever so slightly began to thrust his hips forwards and held his hands in front of himself as if he was holding something, more specifically, someone. "They have a name for the walk you are doing."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes, it's called I-just-got-my-brains-fucked-out-the-night-before-and-want-the-world-to-know."

Arya snorted. "I didn't have sex last night."

"Okay, then it's called: Gendry-is-back-in-my-life-and-I'm-just-so-excited-that-I-just-can't-hide-it walk," he sang.

Francisco opened his arms and pulled Arya in for a hug.

"How did you know," she whispered in his ear.

"I told you over a year ago," he began. "There's a smile for Gendry and there's a smile for everyone else; and let me say, there's no way you could ever confuse the two."

A day had turned into a week and a week had turned into a month and Gendry was still staying at her place. To be honest, she didn't want him to leave and it wasn't just because they hadn't seen each other in months (well, that was the primary reason). It just felt so right and natural with Gendry living with her. There wasn't any awkward mishaps or confusion, Gendry fit very well in her personal space. Occasionally, he teased her about her messiness, but it was all in good fun.

They took turns cooking dinner and completing chores. They would watch shows together and play games or sit and talk for hours. And there wasn't any guessing about it, Arya knew that this was what she had been missing when she didn't agree to be Gendry's girlfriend. Her fears and controlling nature had ruled her back then, but now, she was able to see what it could have been like—what it could be like and she never wanted to let him go again.

Arya kicked off her shoes as soon as she walked into the door. She was hanging up her jacket when she saw Gendry walk down the stairs and that when it hit her, what she has always known; there was no other man for her, it had been just Gendry—it had always been Gendry.

Arya wondered what was it about the simple mundane moments that made her have huge realizations like when Gendry was snacking on cookies when she realized she was in love with him and, now, him walking towards her to greet her after coming from work. Even if they never got married, there would be no other man besides him. Their souls had imprinted on one another since they day that met and they were two halves of a whole.

Suddenly, Arya ran to Gendry and jumped into his arms. A deep kiss was planted on his mouth as Gendry walked backwards and settled on the stairs. Arya straddled his lap as Gendry ran his hands up and down her back. Shivers were sent up her spine as she became reacquainted with his touch. Gendry always knew how to touch her the right way. Their lips rubbed against one another passionately and frantically. Gendry rotated between kissing and nibbling her neck, which she leaned her neck back further to give him better access.

Hurriedly, Gendry undid her buttons of her work shirt, and then brushed it off of her shoulders. Arya shrugged the shirt completely off and took off her tank top. She could feel him hardening underneath her. To arouse Gendry even more, she began to grind her hips against his. In response, Gendry grabbed her hips and began to thrust upwards.

"I've miss you so much," he moaned before kissing on her collarbone, and then each of her breasts. Without detracting attention from her breasts, Gendry unclasped her bra and threw it to the ground. He played with her breasts in his hands and she felt herself increasingly get wet; she bet her panties were soaked. No, she knew they were.

"Not nearly as much as I missed you." A sharp gasp escaped from her as Gendry aggressively rubbed the fabric that covered her clit. They maneuvered Arya was now sitting on his lap and took her pants and underwear off. Quickly, Gendry slid down his sweatpants and underwear so that they rested at his ankles.

Eagerly, Arya straddles his lap again. She took Gendry's cock in her hand stroked it the way she knew he loved. When his erection stood as proud and tall as she knew it could, Arya began to lower herself on the aroused cock.

At first, she started of slow to stretch her vaginal muscles and get used to him again. His cock stretched her deliciously and she wanted to cum at that moment. Gendry placed his hands on her hips again so that she had better stability. Every once in a while, he would thrust upwards, but primarily, he let her do all of the work. He knew that she had to get used to him and not the other way around.

She kissed him once, then twice, then three times.

When she felt that her body had adjusted to Gendry just fine, Arya increased her pace. She began to roll her hips the way Gendry enjoyed and in a way that maximized her pleasure. Arya placed her hands on his chest and made Gendry lay against the stairs. It was something about the way Gendry watched her while she was on top that made her lose herself. And that present moment wasn't an exception.

His gaze was intense, but full of admiration and loved. Gendry loved watching Arya take control and getting into a zone of sorts. She moaned without a care in the world as Gendry repeatedly filled her with his cock. Messy kisses were placed on his face, in his ear, and on his forehead.

A brief pause occurred as Gendry still Arya's movements and sat up. He then grabbed her thighs and stood up before backing her against the wall. Arya wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his shoulders.

This new position brought a new sensation over Arya and she gasped in delight. Over and over, Gendry stroked a sweet spot, which drove her insane. She pulled him closer and wrapped her legs tighter.

"Oh Gods," she cried. "Please go deeper."

Gendry obliged and she spoke nonsensical words into his chest. He lifted her legs a bit higher and stroke her even deeper than the time before. An orgasm unexpectedly hit Arya.

To increase her pleasure during her climax, Gendry went faster and Arya's nails pierced his skin. He knew she drew blood. He sowed down his pace after he believed her orgasm started to dwindle.

They then moved to the floor and Gendry took his time this time. He knew that it would take a while to reach such a state of arousal again, but he didn't mind. Through daze eyes, Arya examined Gendry as he pumped in and out of her. Gods, he was beautiful from any angle.

Sweat began to form on his forehead, which didn't surprise her. Gendry's face was a mixture between extreme concentration and pleasure. She opened her legs a little wider and Gendry groaned in appreciation.

It was obvious that Gendry wanted to cum, but he was trying to hold it in for her second orgasm. Arya began to move underneath him as she pulled him closer. She hated the distance even during sex. It was a constant conflict for her whenever they had sex: she wanted to watch him, but she wanted to him close.

Gendry was on the edge.

"Cum for me, Gendry," she whispered. He shook his head no and she laughed.

"Gendry, cum for me," she whispered again. He placed a kiss on her forward and continued pumping. Arya then grabbed Gendry's ass and pulled him closer. Another orgasm hit Arya and she cried loudly at her second release. Gendry's wild pumping told her that he had lost his battle and, well, the loud groaning she heard in her ear.

"What was that about," he asked after he regained his breath after rolling off of her.

"You mean jumping on you?"

"Yeah," he breathed heavily.

"I finally found where I belong," she smiled. "With you."

Gendry thought about what she said, and then nodded in agreement.

"I spent my whole life trying to find a home," he confessed. "Never did I realize that sometimes, home is a person and not a place. No wonder I felt restless everywhere I went except when you were near."

The cold tiles didn't bother Arya at all.

"Daydream delusion

Limousine Eyelash

Oh, baby with your pretty face

Drop a tear in my wineglass

Look at those big eyes

See what you mean to me

Sweet cakes and milkshakes

I am a delusion angel

I am a fantasy parade

I want you to know what I think

Don't want you to guess anymore

You have no idea where I came from

We have no idea where we're going

Lodged in life

Like two branches in a river

Flowing downstream

Caught in the current

I'll carry you. You'll carry me

That's how it could be

Don't you know me?

Don't you know me by now?"

-"Milkshakes" Iris Watts Hirideyo (I think)