So, been a while eh? I am terribly sorry for the delay. Long story short, I strayed to other fandoms writing-wise (OUAT and SGU mainly) as you might have noticed. It happens to me, unfortunately, when I find a pairing that catches my attention. This time, it was SanSan that suffered. But the inspiration stroke unexpectedly when, after a couple of days away from LJ (I do hang out on Tumblr a lot these days), I came back and saw the "Words and Deeds" meme. Well, let's say I was in turn flattered, humbled and ashamed of my lack of participation recently. This update is but a meagre token of apology for that. I still love SanSan and plan to finish my WIPs, it just might take a while. Please, be patient.

Also, you might have noticed in the changed summary, Jon/Arya is the official beta couple. They are my runner-up ASOIAF OTP. I'm sorry if anyone's been made uncomfortable by that but I won't be changing my mind. I like them and there are lots of fics out there with other Arya pairings, so forgive me if I indulge my preference in this one.


BRAN

Sansa joined the rest of the family for a luncheon in the solar and Bran thought she looked much better than the previous evening. Catelyn and Ned occupied her attention for the best part of the meal but she interacted with them naturally enough. She was more timid around Sandor but she smiled at him now and then and not once did she flinch away from him, not even when he turned to answer Rickon and his scarred face was displayed in full. According to Arya, the couple had had a long talk in the godswood that morning and even if it had spoiled Bran's plans for the day, he was glad that a progress had been made.

After the rest of the meal was taken away and children pried away from their parents, a more companionable mood settled on the room. Bran couldn't help but smile. The last time the whole family had been together like this had been shortly after Daeryssa's birth, more than six months past. And the gathering had been larger, with their Tully uncles in attendance as well, not to mention the Royal family. But the people in this room, the six of them, they were more than family, more than blood and marital ties. They were a pack and that included Sandor, too. It had been Arya to name them as such and she had been the one to include her goodbrother among them, much as she had pretended to dislike him.

Speaking of Arya, she was stretched belly-down on the rug in front of the unlit hearth, pointedly ignoring Sansa's scandalous looks as she leafed through the letters that had arrived during the day and sorted them into two distinct piles - inquiries from the bannermen who had heard about Sansa's accident and wishes of luck from friends and family. When she started whistling and swaying her shins to and fro, Sansa could no longer keep silent.

"That is not very lady-like, Arya." the tone of an older sister lecturing the younger was clear in Sansa's voice and Bran bit his lip to stop from snickering as Arya gave Sansa her best innocent look.

"Well, according to your husband, I'm not a lady at all," she replied and went back to sorting the letters. Rickon laughed out loud while Bran decided, wisely, to stay out of the argument. For all that Sansa and Arya had grown closer in the past few years, some of their old rivalry remained and with Sansa's personality partially reverting to her childhood one, the clash was inevitable.

"It is unseemly." Sansa tried again and Arya shrugged.

"I'm wearing breeches and I'm more comfortable this way."

"We should probably talk about how we are going to arrange things." Jon intervened, recognizing the signs of an impending argument like Bran himself had. It wouldn't be the first nor last time it happened. "You are Rickon's regent and he still has more than a year before he comes of an age so we need to make some plans in case your memory doesn't come back soon."

"I thought we shared the regency," Sansa spoke slowly, frowning as if trying to recall something. "Sandor and I. That is what Maester Denar told me." She looked at Sandor who sighed.

"I dealt with the boy while you took care of the rest," he told her quietly. "I have no patience for your bannermen and they have no patience for me. Your Northmen wanted a Stark to lead them so we gave them one."

Bran nodded in confirmation when Sansa looked at him.

"I was busy with the rebuilding of the Wall," he said. "And I only came of age two years ago myself. Arya acted as the Warden until she and Jon got married, though. Maybe she could take over again for a while."

"I planned to leave for King's Landing in two weeks but I can stay longer if you need me," Arya offered and Sansa smiled a little before turning serious again.

"I wouldn't wish to delay your plans," she said but Arya shook her head.

"I will be grateful to you for any excuse to stay," she stated. "Besides, I have a couple of bruises I need to pay back to someone," she added, glaring at Sandor who shrugged.

"You were the one who wanted to take me on. Don't whine if you can't take a couple of whacks."

"You were fighting?" Sansa gasped, looking between the two of them. "Why?"

"Training," Arya replied as she stood up, stretching like a cat. "I am quite good with a sword, if I say so myself. And this ugly brute might have many, many, many faults but he's a good swordsman at least."

Sandor snorted, leaning back in his chair, a half-smirk on his face.

"Don't hurt yourself trying to think up something nice to say about me."

Bran didn't pay attention to the rest of the spat, watching Sansa instead. She was looking worried at first, looking between Arya and Sandor as they both moved into the centre of the room, Sandor trying to intimidate Arya with his size but then she relaxed and even smiled a little, as if something had occured to her. Bran wheeled himself over, putting one hand on her shoulder.

"Are you alright?" he asked quietly. She nodded, still smiling.

"They pretend to hate each other but they do not, not really."

"No," Bran laughed quietly. "They are too similar at times and that is why they clash so often but they do care about each other."

"Like a family," she said softly. "They are a family. We are a family."

Bran reached down to take Sansa's head, squeezing once.

"We are," he agreed. "I told you last night. Starks are hard people. We can endure anything and we will. You will too, Sansa. You are strong enough."

She nodded, looking over at Jon who took over Arya's previous task, sorting out the letters and pointing out things to Rickon who joined him while Arya herself was gesturing wildly as she explained to Sandor a small detail of footwork involved in a particular parrying manoeuvre.

"Jon and Arya are married, aren't they? The little boy of Ned's age and that girl-"

"Aemon and Visenya, yes, they are theirs."

Sansa frowned.

"Visenya is younger, correct?"

"Yes, she's only two years old," Bran explained, waiting for another question.

"Why would they be called Wolf Twins then?" she asked and Bran sucked in a breath, startled.

"Where did you hear that?"

"I... I am not sure," Sansa said slowly. "Why? What does that mean?"

"Did Maester Denar tell you about the scandal regarding Joffrey and his siblings?"

"They were fathered by the Queen's brother, Ser Jaime," Sansa said uncertainly which was understandable. Her knowledge of those years came from being told things by other people. Bran nodded.

"Yes, the Queen and her brother. The Lannister twins. Or the twin lions. Now look at Jon and Arya," he told her, knowing what she would see. The solemn Stark faces, long and pale, with dark hair and gray eyes. Their Northern heritage was clear and so was their familial connection. Sansa turned to Bran, the question clear in her eyes. "People are often unkind. When Jon and Arya's relationship became known, there were many rumours about them and even more insults hurled their way. Wolf Twins is what they were called most often."

"Oh," Sansa whispered, a little sadly, Bran thought. "That is terrible, to mock them like that."

"It is. It wasn't that bad in the North, though. That's why I find it interesting that you know the expression. No one in Winterfell would be so disrespectful as to use those words."

"But that would mean..." Sansa trailed off as she realized what that might mean. "I must have remembered it!" she concluded, smiling widely. Her exclamation caught the attention of the other four people in the room.

"You remembered?" Rickon shouted, barreling across the room to where Sansa sat, embracing her tightly. Sansa laughed lightly but then shook her head.

"Not everything, just a small detail, but that means my memories are not entirely gone and they might come back with time. Right?" she turned to Bran who nodded thoughtfully.

"We should let Maester Denar look at you. And we should find out what prompted you to remember those words. There might be a pattern or something else that could help you to remember more."

"What did you recall?" Arya asked. Sansa flushed, looking down.

"The phrase 'Wolf Twins'. I am sorry."

"Don't be," Jon assured her. "The important thing is that you recalled something."

"I was thinking about how much your children looked like you and the words were there," she tried to explain herself.

"It is a good sign," Sandor rasped from her other side and Bran was stunned by the smile Sansa turned to her husband.

"I will remember you, I promise."

"You need not make any promises to me, little bird," he said in a voice even rougher than usual and Bran reached for Rickon's shoulder, quietly asking his younger brother to help him out of the room. Jon and Arya had already made themselves scarce and Bran allowed himself one last look back before the door closed on the couple within. Sandor was kneeling by Sansa's seat, holding her hands between his own and Sansa was smiling gently down at him.

Bran blinked and looked away. It was as he had told Jon. Sandor would be Sansa's support if she let him. And by the short scene he had just witnessed, she was more than willing to lean on him and Bran was glad for them both. They deserved their happiness back.

TBC