A/N: Hey friends! So two things of notice for y'all. Firstly, with this chapter posted this story is now over 100k words! *someone please stop me!* When I started writing I never expected this story to grow but I am having so much fun writing it and all you lovely readers are so encouraging so thank you for sticking with me. I have the rest of the story plotted out...I need to write a bit more before I can give you a ballpark of chapters left. Secondly, a lot of things have been going on in my personal life and with Christmas coming up, I will not be posting the next chapter for two weeks. *OH NO!* I'm so sorry. That is the plan. If I feel a sudden burst of inspiration and manic writing, I may post sooner but we shall see.
On those notes, here is the next chapter. I hope you enjoy! :)

Chapter 21

Arya leaned against the sink in her apartment's kitchen, catching up with Shireen, Hot Pie and Lommy. The spring semester would start in two days and students were beginning to return to their campus housing to prepare. Hot Pie had text Arya that he was coming over to make cannolis, so of course Lommy tagged along. The four friends were comparing their Christmas breaks and talking about their new classes. Arya was overly brief with her description of her break. After the incident with Gendry on Christmas, she had avoided him and his texts like the plague. Even Jon had tried to talk to her about it but she refused to talk. Apparently Gendry kept quiet about the kiss but was more moody lately. Not my problem. Oddly enough, Sansa was the one Arya turned to. The two sisters actually spent time together and started having a friendship, however strange it was. She might not be the worst sister after all. Sansa dropped out of school in Chicago and decided to take the semester off to work with their mother before picking up a few classes in the summer to catch up here. With her back and living at home, she had been more than willing to drive Arya to school and back depending on Arya's work schedule. Over New Years, Arya picked up extra hours, using it as an excuse to stay away. Eventually she knew she would have to confront Gendry. She could not ignore him forever even if she really wanted to. Yet everything had changed with that kiss.

Arya frequently checked her phone, hoping to see a text from Jaqen. She thought he was supposed to arrive back today and he said he would let her know when he arrived. Thinking about him, butterflies took off in her stomach and she had to bite her lip to keep from smiling. Did he miss me? What is the present he got me? Gods, I miss him. Especially with her current denial of Gendry's existence, she realized how much she relied on Jaqen's friendship and how much he meant to her. Over the break her mind replayed their kissing, trying desperately to remember what his lips and hands felt like on her. It was stupid. Now she craved his touch, his time and his adoration. She could never go back to just being friends with him, he meant so much more to her.

"Earth to Arya. Come in, Arya."

Arya snapped out of her trance to see her three friends all staring at her amused. "What?"

"I just asked if you were excited about our class together." Hot Pie said, looking at her curiously. He stood a couple of feet away, leaning against the counter, with the food in the oven.

"What were you thinking about?" Shireen pointedly asked, eyeing her suspiciously.

Arya has not told Shireen about Jaqen's kisses, nor Gendry's. Gods, I haven't kissed anyone in years since Edric and now two guys in two weeks! Honestly, only one of those guys she had really wanted to kiss and damn was it worth it. Thinking about it again made her feel tingly and she fought to suppress a blush. "Nothing. I don't know how you talked me into taking this class with you."

"Oh, it'll be fun!" Hot Pie tried to wink but both eyelids closed. "I heard it was a popular class."

"That's because the title of the class has the word 'sex' in it." Arya retorted. Somehow Hot Pie and Shireen convinced her to take a biology class with them in the spring semester. Which was fine because it was a requirement she needed to fulfill…but now she wondered if she would regret it. Nope, I'm going to end up regretting this. It's a fact.

Shireen spoke up. "Its not a sex class. It's the Biology of Sex. It focuses on the evolution and why sex is important as a species, not just for humans but for the whole animal kingdom."

"Remind me again why I care?" Arya was beginning to question her friend's judgement.

"I heard the professor likes to show videos of animal sex." Lommy interjected, smirking.

Arya pointed at Lommy while staring at Hot Pie and Shireen. "See! I don't need those images in my brain! Gods, I already walked in on my sister and her new boyfriend over break. I'm going to need therapy if I see anymore."

"It'll be fine. Maybe we'll actually learn something useful to spice up the sex life." Shireen flippantly said, running her fingers through her long, blonde hair.

"I need someone first before I can spice anything up." Hot Pie mumbled awkwardly.

Lommy's smirk grew as he glanced at Hot Pie. "Hey, is Jon and Gendry still single?"

"Ah! I don't want those images in my head!" Arya exclaimed, covering her eyes.

A knock on the door surprised them all.

"I got it." Shireen gracefully rose off the bar stool she sat on and swept over to the door. It was probably one of the neighbors complaining about the noise level, even though last semester those same neighbors blared their techno music until two in the morning. Arya has seriously considered vandalizing their apartment and breaking their speakers so she could get some sleep. It was probably wise that Shireen answered the door, she was much more civil towards them.

Arya decided to answer Lommy's question, anything to distract from the wounded puppy dog look on Hot Pie's face currently. "Just so you know, I'm pretty sure Jon is off the market. I don't know if its official but he's been spending lots of time with some senior girl named Dany."

"Arya, it's for you."

Confused, Arya swung her head over to see Shireen holding the door open as a figured stepped over the threshold. It took her mind a split second before she ran and practically tackled him, wrapping her arms around him.

"Schöne Mädchen." Jaqen murmured, pulling her further into his embrace. The inspiration to surprise her with his return had hit him mid-flight across the Atlantic. It had been a gamble that she would be at her apartment but it paid off. Her reaction was all he had hoped for and spoke volumes that her desire for him had not diminished from their time apart. Aware but uncaring of the strangers in the room, he tucked his face into the crook of her neck and shoulder, wanting to be enveloped by her presence. He missed her, truly, yet he did not fathom how much until she was in his arms and suddenly he felt whole again. Was hast du mit mir, schöne Mädchen gemacht?

Abruptly she pulled back, grabbing his hand, and dragged him towards her room. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Hot Pie and Lommy's shocked faces and Shireen's amused smile but she did not care. HE'S BACK! HE'S BACK! HE'S BACK! It was as if the sun had appeared during a storm; she felt lighter, happier and by all the gods she wanted to show him how much she missed him. Hastily she shut her bedroom door behind them, having led him into her dorm room. She turned to say something but his mouth descended on hers and the words vanished. He pushed her back against the door roughly, a thud resounding from the slam; but she was so absorbed in his lips and touch, a bomb could have gone off and she probably would not have noticed it. His lips crashed against her, his hands tipping her head up to better meet his. Her tongue traced his bottom lip, seeking entrance which he willingly granted. As their tongues fought for dominance, her hands slipped under his shirt and ran across his toned back, pulling him closer. They were flush against her dorm door, every part of them touching as much as possible. At one point his lips slipped from hers to ease down her jaw and neck, planting kisses like a trail of heat on her skin. Deftly, she untied the bun on the top of her head and let her hair drift down onto her shoulders.

"Mein Liebling. Du hast mir gefehlt. Meine Herzallerliebste." He hoarsely whispered into her ear, breathing her scent in and running a hand through her hair. It did not matter that she did not understand his words. It was an admission in his native tongue. The words needed to be spoken aloud or they would burn like a fire in his chest until he turned to ash. He had tried, may Him of Many Faces save him, he had tried so hard to push away his thoughts of her while at the House, to be Faceless again. Their kiss before he left had sealed him as hers though. Whatever heart he had left she had stolen from him. He nipped at the pulse point on her neck before soothing it with his tongue. Her soft whimper shooting right through his body and it took all his willpower to not toss her on the bed behind them and make her cry out his name in pleasure. She was his siren and no longer did he try and resist her. He was owned body and soul. Slowly he brought his forehead to hers, tracing her ear and check with his nose before coming to rest.

"Jaqen," she sighed out, closing her eyes, "I missed you." Her arms were wrapped around his neck. One of his arms was around her waist while the other was behind her neck, tangled in her hair.

"Arya…my lovely girl…I missed you too."

They held onto each other for a few minutes, just listening to one another's breath and feeling the warmth of their bodies. It felt as if all the turmoil of their time apart melted away like snow to reveal the spring flowers hidden below. It was perfection. It was joy. It was serenity. It was home. Being back in one another's arms felt like two puzzle pieces coming together to discover what they had been missing all along. Gradually their eyes opened, as if coming out of a trance, bronze staring into gray.

"I have a gift for you…" Jaqen reached into his jean's pocket, then grabbed one of her hands and pressed something small and hard into it. "A man apologizes he did not have time to wrap it."

She gently kissed his soft lips, erasing his embarrassed, sheepish smile. Anything given to her by Jaqen automatically deserved to be treasured, no matter if it was wrapped or not.

"A man has only a few possessions that are truly his…but this is one of his most prized."

Curious she opened her hand, both of his arms encircling her waist now. In her hand was an iron coin the size of a quarter, dark with strange writing on it. "What does it say?"

"Valar Morghulis on the front and Valar Dohaeris on the back." He watched her guarded expression, wishing he could truly convey all that this small coin represented to him and about him. One of his hands drifted upward to caress her cheek as he continued speaking, noting the small crosshatch scar there. "A man received this coin when he completed his training. It shows he is a Fac…of a elite fighting group. Only a few are chosen and even fewer fully complete the rigorous training. The words are a sort of motto and reminder for us."

"What do they mean?" She found the coin strangely beautiful and alluring. It was simple yet heavy, not just in physical weight but it carried a sense of significance and credence in her hand.

"Valar Morghulis, all men must die. Valar Dohaeris, all men must serve."

"That's pretty morbid. No wonder you like me so much, I make your life fun."

He laughed before kissing her deeply, eliciting a soft moan from her as she clung to him. She definitely made his life more interesting, fun and complicated.

Once he released her lips, she smiled looking at the coin again. "Thank you, Jaqen. I'm… I'm amazed you gave me something so important to you."

"Just promise me one thing."

"Anything."

"You keep it somewhere safe and secret. It would be unwise for others to find out it's in your possession."

She smirked, holding his gaze as she pulled the neckline of her sweater out and dropped the coin into her bra. Quickly she adjusted it to lay flat between her small breasts inside her sports bra. Biting her lip, she watched Jaqen's hungry eyes as she placed his coin somewhere safe and secret.

"Schöne Mädchen." He groaned, nuzzling her neck. The thought of where his coin now resided turned him on more than he cared to admit. The coin was his to do with as he pleased. It was the first thing that came to mind when he decided to reciprocate her gift giving. He wanted to give her something of personal value, something to remember him with. In all reality she would probably throw the coin away years down the road but for now…now she had something that defined him.

She giggled, squirming as he nuzzled her and breathed hot air on her skin. Her skin felt ultra-sensitive to the touch…his touch. She practically whined when he released her and stepped back.

"A lovely girl's friends must think a man has stolen her from them."

"I think technically I stole you."

He chuckled. "Just so. I was forced to come to lovely Arya's bedroom and manipulated to taste her delicious lips."

Rolling her eyes, she laughed. "Yep, that's exactly how it went." She poked him in the chest. "Just so you know, I wear the pants in this relationship."

"Truly? What is a man supposed to wear? Am I to go about without pants on? Or is this your way of trying to undress me again?"

"It's a phrase…wait, again? When did I undress you before?"

He leaned down, running his nose along her ear and breathing in the scent of her hair. "Has a lovely girl forgotten how she seduced a man to join her in a pool?"

She pretended to think about it as she snuggled deeper into his chest. "I'll take full credit for that. We should go swimming again. You look delicious without clothes on."

He chuckled before tilting her face up to meet his once more, tenderly pressing his lips to hers. It was a soft, sweet kiss. Her lips molded to follow his as he held her tighter. This was true contentment and peace in this moment for Jaqen. Something he never hoped to lose yet knowing eventually he would have to give it up…give her up. This could not continue forever however much he wanted it to. In the back of his mind, he worried already about his Master's plans and what he suspected involving his gray-eyed beauty.

"If you keep kissing me, we will never leave this room." She mumbled against his lips.

"Is that a problem?"

"Theoretically, no…but Hot Pie made cannolis and I really want to try one."

He leaned back to see her face, a feigned hurt look appearing. "So you choose food over time with me? A man sees what your true priorities are."

She laughed, stepping out of his embrace but grabbing one of his hands in hers. "I'll make it up to you. Promise." Tugging him along, she walked them out to where her three friends were softly chatting but immediately silenced once they stepped into the room. She suddenly realized they probably heard her being slammed against the door and with her hair unbound, lips swollen, they knew exactly what had happened. Not that I care right now.

"Hot Pie, Lommy, this is Jaqen H'ghar…my boyfriend." A quick glance showed Jaqen give a brief nod to the guys but no reaction to her giving him a title. She hoped he was ok with her declaration of a relationship. We were otherwise preoccupied…maybe we'll talk about it later…or just keep kissing.

"Nice to meet you, Jaqen. The cannolis are done, just letting them cool a bit first." Hot Pie quickly said, a huge smile on his face.

Jaqen followed Arya to stand next to the small kitchen island, stilling holding her hand. Boyfriend. He liked being labeled as hers and her as his, yet that term did not feel strong enough to convey his feelings for her. Meine Herzallerliebste. Geliebte. Mein Herzenswunsch. He logically knew those titles were excessive…but they were honest of how he felt.

"Pleasure to see you again, Miss Shireen." Jaqen smiled at Arya's roommate, sitting on a bar stool on the other side of Arya. "I apologize for stealing your friend away."

Shireen giggled. "Oh don't be sorry for that. I don't think I've ever seen her so excited at a surprise…so you two are official now?"

"Yes, a man wanted her to no longer be a student in his class."

"Cute. About time Arya had a boyfriend. Gods know I've tried to set her up for months now, she always blew the guys off. I was concerned she had taken a vow of celibacy and forgot to tell me."

"Shireen!" Arya exclaimed but Shireen just laughed at Arya's horrified expression.

Jaqen wrapped an arm around Arya's waist, pulling her to his side. "Those services will no longer be required." He teased, pressing a brief kiss to Arya's temple.

"Good, she was impossible." Shireen's smile grew as she watched Arya wrap her arms around Jaqen before sticking her tongue out at her.

The conversation turned back to classes and thoughts of the new semester. Jaqen beguiled Arya's friends with a humorous story of his return flight to America involving a flight attendant, an air marshal and a drunk passenger on the flight who thought the bathroom was his throne and he the Queen of England. Arya laughed, keeping her arms around Jaqen as she listened. His arm was still around her waist, thumb rubbing her side. Eventually they would have to talk about their relationship. She understood he could not stay forever and she wanted to ignore that as long as possible. It felt inevitable that her heart would get mangled up at the end but she did not want to stay away. He would choose his job, his mission at the end of the day and not her…right?

Arya raced around her apartment in an attempt to get ready quickly before Jon arrived. Her alarm had not woken her up from her nap so she frantically awoke to a call from Jon saying he was on his way to get her. Some of the guys were going sledding after classes. There had been a light snowfall during the morning, an welcomed addition to the couple feet of snow already covering the ground. Arya grabbed her snow-pants and shoved them into a bag along with her gloves, deciding to put those on once they get to the sledding hill. Just as she was tying up her snow-boots there was a knock on the door. She had told Jon she would meet him outside and to text her when he arrived. Maybe I missed his text? Ready, she threw the bag over her shoulder and opened the door.

"Hey, sorry my alarm didn't…oh." Standing outside her door was not Jon like she thought but Gendry. With the way he was refusing to meet her eyes, she bet Jon put him up to this. Dammit, Jon! Keep your nose in your own business. She had not spoken to Gendry since Christmas, although he tried several times via texts and calls. Apparently her silent treatment towards him was not enough to show her resentment towards him currently. It had been hard to ignore him over the past two weeks but she managed it.

"Arya, please…" Gendry glanced up at her, his voice soft and pleading.

She considered turning around and shutting the door in his face, forgoing the sledding today. I'm not going to let him ruin my fun. I'll ride with him…doesn't mean I'll talk to him. Closing the door behind her, she quickly locked it and started down the hallway ignoring him. She heard him huff then in several long strides catch up with her.

"You can't ignore me forever." He said, walking beside her.

"Watch me!"

"Argh!" He grabbed her arm to halt her movement but she quickly slipped out of his hold. Giving him a glare that could melt stone, she stomped away.

"Arya, please!" He raced to stand in front of her. "I'm trying to have a serious conversation with you."

"And I'm trying to ignore it!" She tried to step around him but he grabbed her shoulders. Sighing, she finally looked up to meet his eyes. If he wants to do this here, fine! Let's do this.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry for arguing with you and saying…those things. I was so angry, I wasn't thinking straight. I'm sorry for making you uncomfortable. I just…I'm sorry and I know I've ruined things but I miss you and want to fix this."

She could hear the sincerity in his voice and see the pleading in his eyes. Yes she was still pissed. Deep down though she knew she was most angry because things could never be the same fully. Their relationship shifted and it sent her reeling, unsure where they stood now. She missed their easy banter and fun times. She missed friend, a brother truly. Now…it felt like she stood in front of a stranger. "Why did you do it?"

"Do what?"

She looked down, shuffling awkwardly for a moment before looking at him. For nights after she had laid awake in bed wondering what his answer would be to that question. "Kiss me."

He released her, running his hands through his hair quickly. He opened his mouth to say something but a door nearby opened and a guy came out. Carrying his backpack over his thick coat, he did not even look at them as he passed by and started towards the stairs. Once the hallway was clear, Gendry looked back at her. "I don't know. It just felt like now or never. Hearing Sansa saying you kissed that foreign prick…guy, I just thought I was losing you."

"Gendry…"

"I know, I know. I just…Gods, you can be so stubborn and dense. I thought you knew…or at least suspected. Arya, I'm in love with you!"

She sucked in her breath at his declaration. How had she been so unaware? Her mind reviewed all their teasing, small touches and moments together trying to piece together what she had missed. She thought he had only seen her as a little sister, as a best friend. Their almost kiss had been the first hint of something more but…he was in love with her?

She thought of her conversations with Sansa in the weeks following. Who makes me happy? Who do I want to kiss? The answer in her mind was instantaneous. There was no doubt, no confusion. Only a pair of burning bronze eyes and a white forelock highlighting his sharp cheekbones and teasing smirk filled her mind. Meeting his gaze, she spoke deliberately, feeling like she was drawing a line in the sand. "Gendry…I'm with Jaqen now."

His head dropped briefly, fists clenching and unclenching before he looked back up. "I get it. I just wanted…ugh, I just wanted you to know. And I'll be here waiting when he leaves."

She bristled at the flippant comment of Jaqen leaving but chose to ignore it momentarily. "Where does that leave us?"

"I want to be friends again. Its not the same without you around. Jon misses you too. He doesn't know why you've been avoiding us."

He was right, it had been easier to avoid both of them and spend her time with Sansa, Shireen or alone. Gods, she did not realize how important they were to her until they were gone. Can I do it? Can I be friends with him after this? Her implicit trust in him had shattered, leaving a hole in their friendship. She missed Jon though. If anything she figured she could tolerate Gendry to be able to see Jon again. Gendry knew she was with Jaqen and she doubted he would try anything now, left to pine away for her affections. "Ok."

"Ok, what?"

"We can be friends again…but you are not allowed to say anything bad about Jaqen or I'll kick your ass."

"As milady commands."

She punched his shoulder, old habits dying hard. "Stupid bull." He chuckled and they started towards the stairs to get to Jon's car. There was still an undercurrent of tension between them. The attempts at teasing felt strained, the air around them not quite as relaxed. The drive back over to the guys' house was quick, with the radio on. Arya could feel the relief rolling in waves off Jon when he slipped into the back seat and discovered Gendry and Arya were speaking again. Once they reached the public hill, Jon held her back and sent Gendry to find the other guys supposedly there already.

"Everything ok between you two now?"

Arya zipped up her overall snow-pants then looked over at her favorite brother. He held her coat since he was already dressed for sledding. "I guess for now."

"For now?"

"I'm with Jaqen…he's going to have to come to terms with that if he wants to be friends."

"And you're sure you're willing to potentially lose Gendry's friendship over this guy?"

Arya glared openly.

He raised his hands in surrender. "Just making sure you've thought this through. I don't want to see you get hurt."

"I know. Can we talk about this later?"

"Sure, I'm here for you." Jon reached over and wrapped her in a quick hug before she could squirm away. "Twenty bucks says my sled will go further than yours."

"Is that a bet?" Arya smiled, pleased that Jon was not going to push the subject further. "Let's up the game. The loser has to drag both sleds back up the hill for the rest of the day."

Jon laughed. "Oh, you're on!" They grabbed their plastic sleds out of the trunk of Jon's Civic and started towards the large hill, already dotted with people sledding. The next two hours consisted of laughter, adrenaline rushes and Jon having to carry both sleds.

"Jaqen, your office hours start in fifteen minutes…" Arya wined but did not attempt to move from her perch on the corner of his office desk. Her arms were wrapped loosely around Jaqen's waist, who stood between her legs.

"That means we still have ten minutes." He continued leaving a trail of hot kisses down her neck and on her collarbone.

"We're going to get caught." She tried to reason yet her head tipped back, eyes closed, to allow him more skin to press those magical lips to.

He responded with a soft growl against her pulse point, the sensation causing her to pull him closer. The office door was shut and Brad had left to go get lunch but also to give privacy for any students wanting to meet with their new TA, Jaqen. It was only the second week of classes, January almost over, so he did not suspect there would be any yet. Even if there were some students waiting, he did not care beyond the beauty before him and sharing the breath between them. Once he recovered her lips again, he captured them with his own, loving the soft moan that escaped her as her lips followed his. Her hands ran across his abs, chest and back underneath his shirt, her touch like a fire across his skin. Her hair was no longer in its bun as his own hands ran through her hair and tipped her face up to better meet his. Suddenly he half-heartedly noticed one of her hands began wandering further south than before.

"Arya…" His lips never left hers as he questioned, her hand now firmly holding one of his ass cheeks. "Sie sind Ärger." Her smile grew as that curious hand ever so slowly began to explore towards the front of his pants. "Schöne Mädchen." He growled, pressing his forehead to hers. His hand caught her wandering one before it found its mark.

She just smiled, weaving her fingers through his. Over the past week since he returned, they had not done more than making out, both keeping their hands in neutral locations. She guessed it was probably harder for him but he never showed any frustration or resentment for the unspoken line they were at. It sounded silly but she wanted to enjoy just kissing him right now. Gods, she had never experienced anything like this before and wanted to soak in every moment she could. There was no fear of losing her virginity to him, if it ever got that far. Her virginity was not something she treasured or saw as sacred, as her mother probably would have preferred. Honestly, she just had not met anyone she wanted to experience that with. A bit of teasing never hurt…especially if he refused to let her leave his office.

"I should probably go." She murmured unhurriedly, still not moving from the embrace.

"Will a man see his most lovely girl later?"

"Only if you ask nicely."

"Oh?" He leaned back just enough to meet her eyes and see her coy smile. "What if I do this?" He ran a hand down her thigh then squeezed just above her knee. Arya cried out and tried to push him away but he smiled as he continued to tickle her. It had been a unexpected discovery, this particular, ticklish spot on her. They had been sitting next to each other when he tried to reach over her and grab something, placing his hand on her knee and she squealed. The best part was he was not ticklish so there was no fear of retribution on his part, although he would not place it beyond Arya to seek retribution in other ways.

Without warning, the door flew open to reveal Margaery Tyrell standing in the doorway. Her eyebrows practically touched her hairline and her mouth was in a perfect 'o' as she witnessed the two. Clearly she had not been expecting this sight before her and her brain seemed to scramble to make sense of everything.

Polite as ever, Jaqen spoke calmly looking at his fellow TA yet keeping his hands where they were, one on Arya's thigh and the other holding her hand. "Good morning, is there something a man can do for you?"

Margaery's back was ramrod straight, the papers in her hands beginning to tip precariously forgotten in front of her. Once Jaqen spoke, she seemed to regain some composure but her shock turned to restrained loathing. Her eyes met Jaqen's, never once looking at or acknowledging Arya in the small office. "Yes, Tyrion is feeling unwell and wondered if one of us wanted to teach the class tomorrow or if he should just cancel it."

"Ah, Brad may be interested. I will ask once he returns."

"Great. I'll come by later to see."

"I'm sure you will." Arya muttered, not realizing how her voice carried.

Margaery's spiteful gaze turned to Arya, no longer being subtle. "And who are you?"

"His girlfriend."

Margaery glared at Arya for a moment longer then turned on her heels and stormed away, leaving the door wide open in her wake.

"I should get going. Good luck with that one."

He shrugged. "I have a girlfriend now."

"I doubt that's stopped her before. Hey, don't forget to eat." Arya nodded to the lunch she had picked up for him. That was the real reason for her visit but they started kissing and here she still was. She slipped off the desk, grabbing her backpack off the ugly couch. "I'll see you later."

"Wie Sie wollen, meine Liebe." He gave her a quick peck on the lips before sitting in his chair.

When he said that, it sent a tingle down her spine. Last time he said it, she asked what it meant and he told her. Something about it warmed her belly and she suppressed a blush. She loved when he spoke to her in German, the words rolling off his tongue and dripping into her ear. It felt like he was sharing a piece of himself with her when he did. Over the break she had begun playing around with learning some German phrases to surprise him with.

Before he could hold her hostage again, she slipped out of his office and down one of the long, white hallway of Elliot Hall. She kept her eyes forward but noticed Margaery openly glaring at her from her and Jessica's office doorway just a few door down. I wonder what kind of grudge that one can hold…and what her revenge will be.