A/N: Hey guys! Yes, I am still alive, though I forgive you if you thought otherwise. I can only apologise for the wait. Things in my real life have been none stop (all good, so no complaints - apart from the precious little time I've had to write!) Anyway, I shall not bore you with excuses. Hope you enjoy the new chapter, and thanks for still being here!

:)

XXX: Brand New

Robb

He still couldn't quite believe it. As he pulled his lips from Myrcella's forehead his head was still swimming with the memory of his son being born right into his hands. They had been shaking so badly, but as soon as they had caught the tiny, messy, perfect baby they had steadied at once. He was in Myrcella's arms now, cradled against her chest and grumbling softly. She looked up from gently hushing him and met Robb's eyes, the most magnificent smile spreading across her face. He could do nothing but respond to her, trying to conjure up the right words. None came, but it didn't matter because the doors of the Sept opened at that moment, and he looked towards them.

His mother visibly paled at the sight that greeted her, her steps quickening as she came towards them. The Maester looked less concerned, a smile spreading across his face as he too made his way over. "Oh, Gods, are you alright?!" his mother asked in a strangled voice, almost barging him out of the way as she knelt down next to Myrcella.

"Fine," his wife responded. "He didn't want to wait."

"He?" his mother's eyes lit up. "Oh, I am so pleased for you both!"

"Mother, shouldn't the Maester…?" Robb placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Oh, yes. Yes, of course. Let me get out of the way," she sounded more flustered than he had ever heard her.

He couldn't help but grin as he rose up to his feet and offered his mother his hand so she could rise to her own. They embraced tightly for a moment, Robb peering over his mother's shoulder so he could watch the Maester looking over the baby. From his bag he took clamps and a sharp knife, and Robb couldn't help the turn in his stomach, though he knew it was only to cut the cord.

"I am so proud of you," his mother whispered in his ear, and he closed his eyes tight against the emotion rising up in him.

"Thank you," he returned quietly, and she squeezed him tighter for a moment before releasing him.

"The queen and the prince can be returned to the keep, your Grace," the Maester spoke up then. "They appear in perfect health, though I will be better placed to attend on them there."

"Yes, of course," Robb said, stepping passed his mother to aid Myrcella.

Their son was now bundled in a swathe of thick blankets, cradled back against her chest. Robb helped steady her as she rose up to her feet, her grip on the baby tight. He wrapped his arm securely around her shoulders and steered her towards the door of the Sept. Hopefully the courtyard would not be too busy, he had been rather looking forward to announcing the birth of his and Myrcella's child at a grand feast. He did not want the gossips seeing and spreading the word before he had the opportunity. Still, he smiled, they would not know whether the baby was a boy or a girl. He would still have the privilege of telling the people of Winterfell they had a prince.

His mother moved to Myrcella's other side, and the Maester fell in behind them as they left the Sept, moving slowly down the steps. Robb's eyes darted between Myrcella and the courtyard, not seeing many people milling around. It seemed that those who were near-by were focused elsewhere. Myrcella's eyes, he could see, were all for the baby in her arms. There was such a wondrous look on her face as she gazed down at their son. Robb knew in that moment that her fears about being a bad mother were all unfounded. She would be a wonderful mother, just as he had always known in her heart. He only hoped that she would feel it in her own heart now as well.

There were a few servants in the entrance hall when they made their way in, and Robb shot his mother a significant glance. Obviously she understood his silent message, calling the girls to her at once as Robb supported Myrcella up the stairs. He could hear his mother's kindly but firm tone, and he hoped the servants would heed her warning to keep quiet about what they had seen. Somehow he doubted they would be able to risk spreading the gossip, but he hoped it would not reach too far before the feast tonight. He had hoped to have Myrcella present at his side when he announced the birth of their child, but it would be impossible now.

"Here we are," he murmured to her as they reached their chamber doors, opening them wide for her to pass through. She thanked him in a slightly distracted manner and he couldn't help but grin as he saw her eyes still fixed on the baby.

"If I could see the prince, my queen?" the Maester asked gently as Robb closed the door behind him.

"What?" Myrcella looked up in a dazed manner, and Robb chuckled. "Yes, yes, of course," she seemed to come to her senses, carefully offering their son out to the Maester.

He took him gently and moved to lay him on the bed, and Robb watched as he stretched out his hands gently, and then his feet. The Maester then bent closer to look at his eyes, a satisfied smile on his face as the baby smacked his little fist against his nose.

"A healthy Stark, to be sure," the Maester declared. "He will need cleaning up, but doubtless your lady mother has already thought of that. I am sure you would also be glad of a nice, warm bath, my queen."

"Yes," Myrcella said, though she was still looking anxiously towards the baby.

"I assure you, he is perfectly well," the Maester soothed. "We will have him all cleaned and swaddled up by the time to have finished bathing."

"Thank you," Myrcella sounded calmer now.

Robb wrapped his arm around her shoulders at that, pressing a firm kiss to her temple as a knock sounded at the door. The Maester went to answer it as Robb steered Myrcella to the bed. He settled her down and then gently raised his son up into his arms for the second time. There were still flecks of blood on him, but the Maester had done a good job of cleaning him up with what little time he had had. He gazed at him for a long moment before looking up to see who had come.

It was his mother, and she smiled widely at him as a procession of servants carrying steaming vats of water moved behind her. "I thought you would have need," she looked towards Myrcella, a proud look in her eyes.

"Thank you, Lady Stark," Myrcella said gratefully. Clearly the idea of a bath had grown on her.

"Come, I will help you," his mother said, and she hesitated slightly before rising up.

"We'll be fine," Robb assured her. "I am sure the Maester is more than capable of assisting me."

"Yes, I have bathed my fair share of new born babes," the Maester chuckled.

"Very well," Myrcella said, sounding assured as she allowed his mother to guide her back behind the screen where the tub was being filled.

Another servant then brought a small tub into the room, setting it down in front of the fireplace before curtseying quickly and leaving the room before Robb could even thank her. He could only assume that his mother had warned them not to linger once their job was done. Still, he was grateful and would thank them later. Now, though, he had his son for himself for a little while, and he was determined to savour the moment.

"Do you need my assistance, your Grace?" the Maester asked gently.

"You're sure he's alright?" Robb returned.

"As sure as I possibly can be," he answered.

"Then, no, thank you," Robb smiled at him.

"No," the Maester agreed. "I didn't think so. Congratulations, your Grace."

Robb thanked him again as the Maester quietly crossed the room and let himself out, closing the door behind him. When he was gone Robb looked back down at his son, seeing his eyes gazing him at him, an almost confused look on his face. He couldn't help but smile, thinking on how strange this must all seem to the tiny baby in his arms.

He could hear the gentle sounds of splashing water from behind the screen, and the hushed murmurs of his mother and Myrcella. The sound was incredibly soothing. It made it all real for him, the fact that he had a healthy son in his arms, and a healthy wife only a few feet from him. Later he would hold her close and savour the fact that he still had her, that she had survived. Right now though he would savour his son, and get him cleaned up and presentable for his mother.

"Come then," he murmured, rising up and moving towards the fireplace. There were towels and blankets laid on the chair next to the tub, as well as the blanket that Myrcella had spent so long sewing in anticipation of their baby. Robb would make sure to wrap him in that when he was all cleaned up. Carefully he unwound the blankets his son had been wrapped in and set them aside before waggled his hands in the water to make sure it wasn't too hot.

It appeared to be lukewarm to him, and so he knew it would be safe for the baby, therefore he carefully lowered him into the water, keeping one of his arms around him to support his head. At first his son seemed surprised, a little gasp and cry leaving him before he settled, his legs kicking slightly as Robb used his other hand to gently run a cloth across him to cleanse him. He couldn't help but smile down on the marvellous little creature, still amazed that he and Myrcella had made him together.

He drank in all of his features, smiling as he saw himself in them. The little hair on his head was the same auburn. His mouth seemed similar, though Robb thought his nose seemed daintier, more Myrcella than him. He smiled. It would be nice to see some of both of them in him as he grew. A knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts, and he hurriedly scooped the baby out of the tub and wrapped him in a towel as he rose up from the floor.

When he opened the door he found himself face-to-face with the matron and her army of nurses. In that moment he fully appreciated Myrcella's apprehension at having so many of them. He felt entirely intimidated even though no one had yet spoken.

"Congratulations, your Grace," the matron curtseyed and the nurses followed her lead.

"Thank you," he said. "Uhm, come in."

"Thank you, your Grace," the matron said, bustling in as soon as he stood aside. "There is much to do, much to do…"

He could only stare as two of the nurses began stripping down the bed, and another moved to discard of the tub that Robb had just bathed his son in. The matron seemed to appraise the room before she moved forward and stood in front of Robb expectantly, her eyes flickering to the baby.

"Best he's swaddled," she said, and Robb had little choice but to hand him over. "Where is the queen?"

"Bathing," Robb replied, feeling more than a little bewildered.

"Quite right," the matron said briskly, moving to the newly stripped bed and laying the baby down on it before beginning to wrap him up tightly. The baby started to grumble at that, and Robb wanted to protest but before he could the matron was done and one of the nurses was handing her a blanket and wrapping it around his newly swaddled son.

"Actually," Robb found his voice. "I had hoped to wrap him in this one," he moved to snatch the blanket Myrcella had made from the back of the chair.

The matron seemed to stare at him for a long moment before she smiled. "Of course, your Grace, as you wish."

In an instant the baby was swapped into the new blanket and the matron scooped him up off the bed, the two nurses immediately descending again to remake it. Robb could not help but be impressed at their efficiency, and he could do nothing but watch their work for a moment or two. He made to move towards the matron then, to reclaim his son, but before he could his mother and Myrcella emerged from behind the screen.

Myrcella looked tired but happy, her robe wrapped loosely around her as his mother supported her towards the bed. Robb smiled at her, though it did not escape his notice that she looked disgruntled at the arrival of the matron and the nurses. He did his best to express his sympathy without saying it outright, and she looked resigned to it as his mother settled her in the bed.

"Thank you, Lady Stark," she said kindly. "Matron, would you be kind enough to pass me my son?"

"Of course, my queen," the matron sounded rather sour, but she handed the baby over to Myrcella and then stepped back a few paces.

"I will come by tomorrow," his mother said as Robb approached the bed. "All this is rather overwhelming enough. I will see to it that the feast is a grand one, so do not fret."

"Thank you, mother," Robb met her eyes to show her he truly meant it.

She seemed to understand him, squeezing his upper arm tightly for a moment before she bent down to kiss Myrcella, and then the baby, on the forehead. A few murmurs passed between the two women that Robb could not quite decipher, before his mother was smiling at him once more before making her way from the room. As the door closed behind her Robb moved to settled himself down on the side of the bed, looking down at Myrcella and their son once more.

"You did wonderfully," he murmured to her.

"As did you," she responded with a smile, before her eyes slid to the others still gathered. "You have been most helpful," she addressed them, her smile more forced now. "But you can leave us now."

"With respect, my queen, we really ought to be here in case you or the prince has need of anything," the matron simpered. "Since you are to remain abed for at least a week."

Robb could tell that there was an angry retort welling in his wife so he leant forwards and pressed a kiss to her cheek before whispering in her ear. "Humour them."

She clearly grit her teeth then, he could hear it. "Of course, you're most kind," Myrcella said instead of whatever she was clearly thinking. "If you would all like to take a place by the fire I will call you over should I have need."

They could not argue with that, though Robb could see the matron clearly trying to think of something. In the end, though, she agreed, and she and her flock of nurses made their way over to settle by the fire. Myrcella leant her head back against the pillows at their retreat and let out a long breath.

"They're excited," Robb tried to excuse them.

"I cannot wait for this week to be over," she whispered to him. "Then they will have no excuse to be with me all the time. Honestly, Robb, I just wanted it to be you and me, and our son."

"It is," he soothed. "No one else matters in this moment. Forget they are even here. We need to think of a name for our boy."

"Is thought really necessary?" she asked him with raised brows.

"What do you mean?" he returned, frowning slightly.

"I would have thought you would name him for your father," she said, eyes wide.

"Would that be alright with you?" he asked awkwardly.

"Why would it not be?" she asked, shaking her head in a slightly bewildered manner.

"With all the bad blood between our families," he explained, and she shook her head with a smile.

"Forget that," Myrcella said firmly. "Your father was a good and kindly man who did not deserve the fate that my brother chose for him. I would be honoured to name our son for him, unless it is not what you want?"

"It is what I want more than anything," Robb confessed, his eyes stinging.

"Then we are agreed," she smiled widely at him, before looking down at their son. "Eddard Stark."

Eddard began to grumble in the next moment, and Robb inched slightly closer as Myrcella rocked him, trying to soothe him. It did no good, his grumbles only intensified, threatening to turn to cries. "I think perhaps he must be hungry," Myrcella said, her free hand moving to the ties of her nightdress.

The matron was there in a flash, one of the nurses stood a step behind her. Robb almost flinched at the suddenness of the movement, he had not even heard them coming.

"I will take him, my queen," the matron said. "Clearly he wants his wet nurse."

"I can feed him," Myrcella almost snarled.

"It is not seemly, for a queen," the matron returned. "Besides, you need rest to recover, and you will not get rest with the prince demanding to be fed every few hours. Best he comes to his wet nurse, and you can get all the rest you need to recover properly. I would hate for you to fall ill through exhaustion."

"I -," Myrcella began again, but Eddard's wails intensified, cutting her off. He was nudging his head against her breast, and again she made to untie her nightdress.

"Your Grace, I really must protest," the matron spoke up again. "It is best we take the prince and get him settled in the nursery with his wet nurse. That way it will avoid confusion and the queen will be able to get the rest she desperately needs!"

Robb was torn. He could see that Myrcella really wanted to feed their son herself, but at the same time she really did need her rest. The last thing he wanted was for her to fall sick because she was pushing herself too hard. He bit his lip. It would only be for this week while she was abed, and then he would give her leave to do whatever she wished about the matron and the nurses. First though, he needed her to recover her full strength.

"Perhaps you should give him to the matron," he murmured to her, and he saw the look of betrayal in her eyes, her bottom lip beginning to tremble. He moved in closer at that, obscuring her face from the matron's view. "She's right, you need to rest," he stressed to her.

"He wants me, Robb," she protested, her voice catching in her throat.

"And he will have you, a fully recovered you," he persuaded. "Just for tonight, at least. Tomorrow we can speak about it properly, and we can spend the whole day here if you like? Just you and me, and our son, what do you think?"

"Alright," she said in a defeated tone, a tear slipping down her cheek.

Robb took Eddard from her then, and he seemed to scream all the louder on being taken from his mother's arms. Myrcella let out a clear sob from behind him and he hated himself for handing the baby to the matron.

"We will leave the queen to rest, your Grace," she said in an almost smug manner before marching from the door, the nurses scampering after her.

"I'm sorry," Robb said in an agonised tone as he turned back to Myrcella as soon as the door closed behind them.

"I know I have to rest," she sobbed. "But don't you ever let them take him from me again, Robb. I swear, I cannot bear it."

"I'm sorry," he said again, crossing to gather her up gently in his arms, part of him imagining that she might just push him away from her. Thankfully she did not, she held him back and cried, and he regretted his decision more and more with every second that passed of her sobbing in his arms. He could do nothing but apologise to her over and over again as he rocked her gently.

Eventually she stilled, and he pressed kisses to the top of her head and to her temple as she hiccoughed a few times. "I only did what I thought was best for you. I want you to be able to look after him properly, Myrcella," he told her gently. "And right now you are exhausted and what you need more than anything is sleep."

"I know," she agreed, though he could tell it was grudgingly. "But they will not be in charge of what is best for him. If I want my son, I will have him, they cannot expect to protest to you each time and have you overrule me."

"This will be the only time, I swear," he promised her, and her expression softened.

"Good," she said, leaning back against the pillows again.

Robb smiled at her, shifting himself so he could look down on her, stroking his hand gently through her hair as her eyes began to flutter. "You're a wonderful mother to him already," he whispered, and a smile graced her face. "I didn't think it would be possible to love you more, to be even more proud of you…"

"I love you," she told him sleepily.

"And I love you," he returned as she sighed happily, her eyes staying closed this time. "Sleep now," he soothed, "I will see you in the morning. We both will."

She didn't respond this time, and he smiled, leaning carefully closer to press a kiss to her forehead before he rose up from the bed and tiptoed to the door as quietly as he could. Myrcella stirred as he opened the latch of the door, but thankfully did not wake. He crept out into the hallway before closing the door behind him almost silently.

With that he made his way down the hallway towards the stairs. Halfway down them he could hear the noise of the feast and was impressed that his mother had got it all done so quickly. He made his way down the rest of the stairs, a grin on his face now that was refusing to fade. Entering the hall he was greeted as usual, and was pleased that it appeared few, if any, people knew that the baby had been born.

As he approached the high table though it became obvious that his mother had told the rest of his family, his siblings all grinning widely at him as he approached. He clapped Bran and Rickon on the back as he passed behind them, thanking them for their whispered congratulations. He ruffled Arya's hair, knowing it annoyed her, though her scowl gave way to a smile as she congratulated him. His mother smiled warmly at him as he stood in front of his own seat and poured a cup of wine.

Slowly the occupants of the hall seemed to notice he had not yet sat, and they began rising from their own seats, looking towards him expectantly. His smile felt ready to crack his face as he waited for the last few folk to stand before beginning his announcement.

"Good people of Winterfell," he began. "I am sure you can all imagine what I have to announce to you, since the absence of the queen is telling in itself, and so I will not keep you long as I know you are all hungry. I will only say that it gives me the greatest pleasure to announce that my wife, Queen Myrcella, this day gave birth to our first child. A son. A Prince of Winterfell, who I am honoured to name here before you – Eddard Stark!"

The roar was almost deafening, and Robb felt tears well in his eyes again. He could not look at his mother yet, having heard her slight gasp as he had announced the name. She would be pleased, he knew, but it would most likely have stirred her emotions as well.

"To Eddard Stark," Robb raised his cup high now, and those gathered followed his lead. "Prince of Winterfell, and heir to the North!"

"Prince of Winterfell!" the called back. "And heir to the North!"

A/N: Hope you enjoyed, sorry if there are any mistakes - I had precious little time to edit and I just wanted you guys to have this chapter. Anyway, I won't promise when the next one will come, only that it will be posted as soon as I'm able.

Thanks for reading!

:)