Robb had been thinking and finally decided to fix his relationship instead of breaking up with his girlfriend. Christmas time and exam period was coming soon, which meant lots of stress, he really didn't need any other conflict. Plus, although he hardly admitted even to himself, he wanted to prove that he's just as capable to maintain a well-working relationship as his half-brother, he doesn't run away from every problem and there actually was a possible way to simply ignore Thirrin Woodley.

This last one had been working surprisingly smoothly since the semester was about to end: in classes they only wrote different tests and exam period would start the following week, so they hadn't really interacted. Despite the fact that he should have been studying very intensely, he managed to spend more quality time with Jeyne and he had been enjoying it pretty much: her nice and open personality made every little moment more elegant and delicate, he re-started craving on her kisses and all of sudden they found much more things to talk about. He was not only sure they'll make it until Christmas, but he found himself thinking about possible spring break destinations.

It was Saturday night, right before exam period would start. They had gone out to dinner near Robb's place, so they were walking home instead of taking a taxi, holding hands, in comfortable silence watching the Christmas lights. They stopped in the doorstep.

"I guess I should go" - Jeyne said.

"No… Stay for the night" - Robb squeezed her hands and kissed her passionately. She returned the kiss, just as fast. They entered the house as quickly as they could and carried on the hungry, passionate kisses in the small hall, leaning against the door, when suddenly he heard the voice he wanted to hear the last.

"...so shut up, Greyjoy, you used to live with Americans, of course you happened to watch this violent shit, but I'm a decent British lady who follows and does sports which suit to her position!"

"Decent lady, sure, then I'm the crown prince of the UAE. Listen, Snowflake, it's okay that you've never watched NFL before, I just simply don't believe that you still don't understand the rules! They aren't that complicated!"

"You haven't told me we won't be alone!" - Jeyne whispered.

"Keep calm, let's just sneak upstairs, they're pretty much into their fight…"

That being said, they tried to enter without being noticed. Robb went first, Jeyne followed him, holding his hand. They had to go through the living room to the stairs, and he couldn't do anything but hope to avoid meeting his roommate and Thirrin.

Unfortunately they ran into the very much surprised - and underdressed - Theon Greyjoy who was on his way to the kitchen.

"Oh… Hey there… Sorry Stark, I thought you wouldn't come home tonight - he said with wide eyes. - Hello, Jeyne."

"Hey, you know I don't mind you having someone over."

"Thanks. How has your nightout been?"

"Very good, thank you, and if you excuse us, we're about to…" - but he couldn't finish the sentence because he was cut off by an effortlessly beautiful redhead's appearance.

"Hurry up with the next round, the second half or whatever its name is starting soon... Oh, hello guys."

Thirrin looked so incredibly sexy that for a moment Robb actually forgot about the fact that his girlfriend was standing beside him. First of all, she only was wearing a dark tshirt (which clearly belonged to Theon, it had the name of the ship he had worked on) and that kind of panties what only girls like Thirrin could wear on a daily basis. Her hair was down in its natural form, she was wearing lighter makeup than usual. The air around her was fulfilled with her signature scent, like she would have been spreading over a whole bottle of perfume: mixture of peppermint, something fresh and cold, and something smoky. She casually put her arm around Theon's waist as she reached them.

Robb couldn't say a word, just stared at the two of them with wider eyes than it would have been appropriate, then he finally murmured a solid "Hello, Thirrin".

"Ohh, looks like we haven't met before. I'm Thirrin Woodley, hello." - she smiled.

"Jeyne Westerling, nice to meet you." - Jeyne was just as surprised as everyone else (and she might have been observing Thirrin too critically), but she managed to remain polite enough for a decent introduction.

"Okay, now that everyone knows everyone, I suppose we all should go for our own business" - Theon said quickly, before the situation would have turned more awkward.

"Totally agree, let's go darling." - Robb nodded, mentally saying thank you for Theon. - "Please, could you be a little bit more… Quiet?"

"Of course, we'll be quiet as a shadow, do what you have to do!" - Thirrin winked.

Robb tried to smile back to her as they were walking upstairs. He was pretty much convinced that he would have to work a lot to bring back the pleasant atmosphere.

As they reached his room and he closed the door, he leant to kiss her again, but Jeyne didn't let it and asked instead:

"Robb, may I ask who this girl is? You never care about anyone whom Theon Greyjoy hooks up with, but it seemed like you would know each other!"

He felt like he would have been slapped. What the heck she's thinking of?

"Because… We actually do. Thirrin is my classmate." - He tried to be as calm as possible, but it was hard because probably for the first time in their relationship Jeyne seemed actually angry.

"Curious. You've never talked about her." - Jeyne sat on the bed, keeping significant distance.

"Why should have I? Hey, darling, let's leave them alone and continue what we've begun…"

"Why were you hiding this girl? - she cut him off. - Is she your ex?"

"No, no, no, no, not at all!" - he protested. No man would ever drop Thirrin.

"Then why was the atmosphere like in a freezer?"

"You know, it's so weird… Seeing her in class daytime, seeing her with Theon nighttime… And it's also weird that Theon has a permanent… Someone." - Robb wasn't sure if they're dating, or just doing it, or what the hell is going on anyway.

"Well, bless them. Though I think decent girls don't even look at Theon Greyjoy…" - she added.

"Wait, what?" - he raised his eyebrows.

"I know he's your best friend but we all know him and his attitude towards girls. And as they say birds of a feather flock together… As I've seen all of his partners were… khm… Easy girls."

"So you're practically saying that my best friend is a heartless fucker?"

"I didn't want to curse, but frankly, yes, he is, and he always hooks up with pretty little sluts."

It was too much for him. Robb never could bear if someone insulted or hurt his loved ones - mainly if one did it to another (in the past 16 years it happened frequently when his sisters had a fight).

"Theon might be much more different than me, but I still love him! - he said loudly, in furious voice. - You don't know what he's been through, please don't judge him! And as for Thirrin… She's not a slut." - he finished shortly.

"How do you know that? - she practically shouted. - Have you seen that tiny lace fabric what she was wearing as underwear?"

I wish I hadn't had to…

"I think it has nothing to do with the matter - he slowed down, trying to finish the pointless fight. - I repeat: Thirrin Woodley might be everything but a slut, and considering that Theon Greyjoy is a grown up person, he can do whatever he wants. I'm not his father to tell him what he's allowed to do."

"Why are you defending her?!"

Robb noticed that Jeyne said her, not him.

"Because you don't know her AT ALL! - Now he was yelling too. - You saw her only once, okay, it wasn't the best situation to meet new people, but you shouldn't think more than the reality! Not that I would know her that much - he added - , but I don't judge her for anything."

"Do you even hear yourself?! Look Robb, I don't mind if you two shared something in the past as long as you're honest with me!"

"Do I really have to repeat myself over and over again?! Thirrin and I had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!"

Only if you don't count the worst party in my life. If anyone says that vodka shots are fun, I'll kill them with my bare hands.

"Okay, okay Robb, I get it. Calm down, please." - she said quickly. - "I overreacted this whole thing, sorry. I'm just… - she hesitated for some moments - I've been very stressed and tired lately."

Robb breathed in and out slowly as he was looking into her hazel eyes.

No, I was the one who overreacted. I'm the one who lets himself mesmerise by Thirrin Woodley - he wanted to say but he couldn't. - Pathethic, isn't it? I'm with you, she's with my best friend, but still… I didn't choose to live a teen drama. Sorry, darling, I'm so so sorry for this. Please help me.

He swallowed and squeezed her hands.

"It's a very stressful period for both of us, it's kind of okay if we can't take any more, but I don't want us to be mad at each other because of things like this - he said finally. - I forgive you but only if you forgive me too."

"Of course I forgive you!" - she bursted out relieved and hugged him. - "And again, sorry." - she murmured against his chest.

"No problem, darling." - he whispered and kissed the top of her head. - "We should probably go to sleep, what do you think?"

"Yes, that would be good." - she nodded.

Later, when they already were lying in the bed, in each other's arms, Robb couldn't fall asleep. He was staring at Jeyne's pretty and calm face while bitter thoughts were storming in his mind. A little fight over Thirrin Freaking Ice-Queen Woodley lead to no sex instantly and he could feel it was only the beginning of a hurricane. His doubtful feelings towards his so-called normal relationship were growing, he could feel the bomb would explode soon. He only could hope that Christmas time wouldn't be full of scandal.