"Hey, you're a bit early," Catelyn greeted Ned when she opened the door for him. She had invited him to dinner when her father expressed his interest on meeting her new boyfriend. She kissed his cheek and led him inside.
He smiled sheepishly, "Sorry, my love, I was excited," he said and kissed her forehead.
The ground floor of the Tully Manor was wide and spacious. Ned wasn't even surprised; her family was one of the wealthiest family in the country alongside his.
He saw her father sitting in the living room couch, staring at him in a way that made him want to squirm. Hoster Tully was a well known navy general before he retired and his family was known to have cruise ships company along wih his boat and ships construction company.
Catelyn gave him a slightly apologetic look before turning back to her father, "Dad, this is Eddard Stark, my boyfriend," she said. It didn't escape Ned's notice that at the mention of his last name, Hoster's eye twitched slightly in what he assumed was annoyance. Catelyn's past relationship with his brother didn't end in good terms and it left her hurt. Her father must've known that but didn't say a thing about it to both of them. Yet.
Ned went on ahead and held out his hand, "You can call me Ned, sir," he said in what he hoped his confident voice. The older man looked at his hand briefly before shaking it with his own, grip still firm and strong despite his age.
"Good evening, Ned," the man said in a deep baritone and gestured at the couch in front of him, "Take a seat. Let's have chat."
Ned gulped nervously.
Catelyn gave him another apologetic look, "I gotta go back to the kitchen. Lysa needs my help there," she said before ealking out of the living room. Ned sat uneasily of the opposite couch where Hoster sat.
When she was completely out of earshot, Hoster began to talk, "As you already know, Catelyn is my first-born daughter," he started, "When their mother died, Catelyn has been a relief not only to her siblings but also to me. She would go out of her way to make sure that everything in this house runs smoothly, the way her mother used to do. She remained strong for them when their mother died. She would make sure that her siblings did their homeworks, that they are alright. She held them when they're having nightmares."
The man's voice and his eyes softened while he was talking about his first-born and Ned already knows, from Catelyn's stories, that Hoster is fond of his daughter. Ned didn't need to speak so he let the man continue.
"Catelyn made this house feel like home again, even without their mother. Everyday, she'd did her duties to her siblings and to this house with a perfect smile on her face.
"But when your brother broke her heart, it had been a while until we saw her smile a real smile again," at the mention of his daughter being hurt, the man's face soured, "I didn't know what to do. I want to kill the man who hurt my Little Cat. I want to tie him upside down and beat him senseless. Cat didn't want me to do that," he sighed.
Ned finally felt the need to speak up, "I know that what my brother did to Catelyn was very horrible," he said, "But I'm not like him, sir. I will never hurt Cat. Not now, not ever."
Hoster gave him a glare that quickly softened, "I fully expect you to do that. And if you were not listening to what I was saying earlier, I can kill for my children. And if ever Catelyn comes in here, crying because you hurt her, she will not be able to stop me this time."
Ned gulped nervously, "I know you're ready to kill anyone for your children, sir, but I assure you, you won't be needing your gun against me anytime because I am never going to hurt Catelyn," he said, "I love her, sir, more than anything."
Hoster continued to look at him before giving him a small smile, "I suppose not," he said, his voice tinged with amusement and Ned smiled back.
"Gentlemen," a voice in the kitchen called, "Dinner is ready!"
"We're coming, Lysa!" Hoster called back just as Catelyn emerged from the kitchen.
"Dad, did you kill my boyfriend?" She said jokingly.
Hoster laughed and even Ned chuckled, "Not yet, Little Cat," her father replied, "Though he's still breathing."
"Dad!" Catelyn said in mock horror and then led them to the dining hall. Ned and Catelyn fell behind a little.
"Everything all right?" Cat asked him.
He smiled and kissed her forehead, "Everything's all right, love."
