A/N Hey guys! I planned on posting this on the two year anniversary of BMHB but life got in the way and well, I'm posting it now. I hope you all enjoy this little one shot universe I created, I know that I really enjoyed writing it. You guys have been so amazing with this story and because of all of your reviews and favourites/follows on this one it's inspired me to continue on writing. Thank you for everything, it means the world. I hope you all enjoyed Robb's and Everra's journey as much as I did.
Until next time,
Fionakevin073
Summary: Four worlds where Robb and Everra end up together and one which they kind of/almost do.
(Some of these scenarios are inspired by other movies and tv shows and I have no ownership whatsoever of any of those.)
i.
Robb wasn't sure how he, the quarterback of his high school football team and the most popular guy in school ended up here.
In glee club.
Oh wait, that's a lie, of course he did.
Mr. Stark had found god knows how many grams of weed in his locker— which he didn't even know how it got there— but he had been cool about it, Mr. Stark that is. Meaning that he hadn't immediately called his single mother and the police and got him expelled from school but still— joining Glee club? Glee club?
He can practically feel both his girlfriend Jeyne and his best friend Theon's distress and confusion from all the way in the auditorium. And who are these people? he thinks as the intro to You're the one that I want begins to play. He recognises Loras, whom he and his friends had recently tossed into a dumpster— hey Robb had made sure that Loras's Valentino jacket had been taken off for safekeeping before he let them do it— and the other goth chick Dany (short for some really, really, long dramatic name that he can't even pronounce) but he isn't too sure about the rest. Wait, no— the kid in the wheelchair is Sam and the other girl with the afro is Missendai or something like that. He knows it starts with an M.
And then there's Everra.
Who everyone hates and thinks is annoying.
Who, he may or may not have been forced to throw eggs at last year but hey, if it's any consolation, Robb threw up from guilt the moment he got home.
He has a feeling that it wouldn't really change anything.
Mr. Stark nods at him and so finally, nervously, Robb opens his mouth and sings.
"I got chills, they're multiplying/ And I'm losing control," his voice is shaky and rough and though Robb kinda hates himself for it his soul lights on fire the moment the words leave his mouth. Nothing had ever made him feel like singing did; like nothing else in the world mattered except the music. "But the power, you're supplying/ It's electrifying!"
There's a moment before Everra joins in and the sound of her voice makes something on the right side of his chest, right near his heart— is his heart on the left or right side of his chest?— flutter and grow.
"You better shape up/ Because I need a man. . ."
—
So okay, Everra may be kinda insane. She's also kind of sneaky hot too, with her black hair and green eyes and yeah sure she may smile too much and talk about herself and her talent 24/7 but she's the only one—besides his Mom— who has ever called him talented before and actually meant it.
And yeah, that other show choir group, Lannister Adrenaline is crazy good. Like, a billion times better than they are. Robb wonders as to whether or not this means that the club is over when he gets home but he surprises himself by feeling disappointed when Mr. Stark tells them that he's leaving Westeros High to become a banker or something.
He's kinda relieved too though.
Those paintball stains from where Theon and the rest of the guys ambushed him after they found out about him being in Glee Club were a pain to wash off and it's not like he's swimming in cash for him to suddenly afford a whole new wardrobe. Besides, he just got to second base with Jeyne and he doesn't want to screw that up.
(He ignores the fact that whenever they kiss he keeps on picturing another annoying though beautiful raven haired beauty the whole time and at night when he jerks off he thinks about Everra for a whole two seconds before he lets go)
—
Fuck it, he thinks, as he pushes Sam's wheelchair into the auditorium.
Fuck what Theon and Jeyne think, he thinks triumphantly, he's going to continue on being in Glee Club despite Mr. Stark leaving because he loves singing and he's so sick of being this asshole to everyone who even dares to be different because all of his friends— and himself— are such pathetic losers who bring other people down to make themselves feel better about themselves.
When he stops in front of the rest of group in the middle of a dance rehearsal, he goes on this speech about he wants to be here and with them because this is what he loves doing. He enjoys football and video games and girls but he loves singing. There's a difference.
"I've got the music," he tells them, though his eyes linger on Everra's.
Later as the music begins to start, he finally feels like he belongs somewhere.
"Just a small town girl/ living in a lonely world," he stares out into the empty auditorium, something warm and special spreading through his veins. "She took the midnight train going anywhere." He turns to look at Everra as she begins to sing, her eyes sparkling. "Just a city boy/ Born and raised in South Detroit/ She took the midnight train going anywhere."
"A singer in a smokey room," he sings, smiling in spite of himself. "A smell of wine and cheap perfume," she echoes and God if her voice isn't the most beautiful thing he's ever heard but then they're voices are joining together and fuck he's getting chills up his spine.
"For a smile they can share the night/ It goes on and on and on and on/ Strangers, waiting / Up and down the boulevard oh shadows, searching in the night." They're staring into each other's eyes as they sing together and Jesus, by the end of the number not only is Mr. Stark telling them that he's staying but he's like 99.9% sure that he's halfway in love with Everra Legrath.
(It takes them till the end of their Senior year to win their nationals and another six after that for Robb to propose to her right on the very stage where they first met and she taught him what love felt like)
ii.
Everra wins the seventy fourth Hunger Games when she's seventeen years old with Robb Stark by her side, of all people. They're the first in the history of the Games to ever both come out as Victors— even if they are from the same district— and Everra can't help but think that if there's no one else she would have rather been in the Games with other than him. Not even with her best friend Daavos.
She wouldn't trade the boy with the bread for anything.
She has scars and burn marks on every inch of her skin but she doesn't let go of his hands to be treated until he is treated first and when she meets the stony gaze of President Tywin during their Victors ceremony, she feels a tiny bit braver when his fingers brush against hers.
We are star crossed lovers, she thinks, when she can't stop herself from leaning over and planting a kiss on his cheek in gratitude.
—
Except he's actually in love with her.
In her defence, Everra hadn't even known that his feelings were real, regardless of how he had blind sided her with his confession on live television in his interview with Baelish. Even during the games, she though that they had a mutual understanding; this was just for them to survive. It wasn't real. He would go home to his already wealthy—ish family and she would return to hers; to her little brother Jon and depressed mother and give them all a better life free of starvation.
But as it turns out, he is actually, genuinely in love with her.
And she—
Fuck, she can't even think about that because she has President Tywin down her back and their wedding and Daavos—who is apparently in love with her too— and then all of a sudden she's thrust back into the Games because she couldn't convince Tywin that their star crossed romance was real.
I really don't have time to figure this all out, she thinks, during their first night in the arena.
But a few days later, when he tells her honestly— without any self-pity of any kind— that, "Nobody needs me."
She can't help but protest— genuinely, truthfully, that, "That's not true. I need you."
And then when she leans over and presses a kiss on his lips, she feels something, a hunger spread in her chest and climb up her throat.
—
The rebellion is over.
They've won the war.
The Games are over.
Jon is dead.
Almost everyone she cares about has left District 12.
Robb isn't there.
Until one day he is.
They grow back together slowly, gently and one night when they're in bed together and he whispers, "You love me, real or not real?"
She doesn't hesitate with replying, "Real."
Later, when they have kids— it took a lot of time for her to even stomach the idea of having her own child, let alone two— and have been married for years, she knows deep down in her heart that this would have happened, regardless of whether or not they would have been in the Games.
She needs hope and the promise of life and only he can give her that.
iii.
Oh fuck, Robb thinks, his eyes widening despite his recent grogginess as he stares at the sleeping form beside him, I fucking slept with my uncle's fiancé. Okay, to be fair to him, they had both a) drunk a lot together, b) she was super freaking gorgeous and the same age as him (his uncle was only ten years older than he was) and c) everyone knew that their engagement was just for show. Since his Granddad died a few years prior and left his company in Edmure's— Robb's uncle— hands it had been on the downhill. Everra's company had wanted to buy it from them in order to save it and Robb doesn't know exactly how they got together but it happened for business.
Or at least, that's what he wants to tell himself.
And also, Robb may or may not have like a small fling going on with the girl—Roslin— living a few houses down, Roslin— but it's not like they're exclusive or anything. Robb doesn't cheat. They've only gone to like second base and she's told him multiple times that she's also having sex with other people so. . .
He looks around her bedroom and his mouth kind of drops open. Yeah, all of his family was really rich— on his father's and mother's side— but he had never been in a bedroom so big before. Literally, it was like the size of his, Sansa's and his parents bedroom all combined into one.
But it was bare. Like, if he hadn't spent the whole night in it— and God had it been a good one— he would have thought that someone had just moved in. As far as his knowledge went, the Legrath's had owned this house— mansion or palace would be a better term— forever.
Oh shit, he thinks, once he feels her stir beside him. He quickly shuts his eyes again and feigns sleep, though he can feel her begin to wake up. He's almost disappointed when he doesn't hear her gasp with shock or feel her cuddle closer to him— not that she's the kind of person who cuddles (like seriously, she's kinda really intimidating 99.9% of the time, she rarely ever smiles)— he's not sure why he's disappointed but he just is.
He feels her slip out of the bed and reach for something and then he can't even pretend to sleep anymore as he opens his eyes to her slipping on a silk wardrobe. He gulps loudly and even though her back is to him she tells him, "I know you're awake."
Yeah, she's also kind of freaky perceptive and everything. Like, she's kind of a genius or something.
"Oh," he murmurs, like a freaking idiot.
She turns around to look at him, her green eyes calculating as she takes in his naked chest. Robb can't help but admire her either and feels a small sliver of satisfaction as he notices the hickey he made on her chest.
"I am not a piece of meat for you to ogle," she snaps, raising an eyebrow at him, "Nor am I one of your possessions for you to claim. We're not dogs." Robb feels his cheeks redden with shame as he stammers, "No— I didn't mean—"
She sighs loudly and walks over to him before sitting on the edge of the bed and reaching for a glass of water on her nightstand. "I know," she murmurs softly before she frowns, deep in thought. There's some awkward silence before she calmly states, "Well, I supposed this was natural occurrence. Our hormones flared up due to the alcohol in our system and led to us having coitus—"
"What the fuck is coitus—"
"We are two adults who will handle this situation maturely and we will continue to be responsible moving forward—"
"Forward?" Robb questions dumbly, feeling as though it were too early in the morning for her to be speaking so. . . formally. Everra tilts her head as she looks at him and Robb isn't sure but he's pretty certain that she's amused, which makes him feel even more dumb than before.
"Well, when we have coitus in the future we will continue to use contraceptives. I do happen to be on the pill, so that will be sufficient but I must insist that you use condoms until we are both tested for STI's—"
"Isn't it STD's—"
"This arrangement of ours should and will continue to remain secret for its entire duration. You and your family are staying in my home until the last week of August before you return to Canada to continue your studies. I feel as though us having a sexual relationship for exactly forty days will be beneficial for the both of us as it's duration is long enough for us to not become bored with each other's. . .performances so to speak."
"But you're engaged to my Uncle!"
She raises an eyebrow at him before she nods, as if to say 'you have a point'. "My relationship with Edmure is based purely on our business interactions. I have a personal disdain for romance but I have a greater disdain for most of the other men in my industry who think that a woman is not fit to be a head a billion dollar Empire. Edmure has neither the brains nor the heart to try and take over my company and is generally viewed as a fool by most other organisations." Her voice softens slightly as she adds, "But he is a harmless fool who tries. Your Uncle is well aware of my feelings and intentions and I am perfectly aware of his. Granted, me sleeping with his nephew may not be something he is entirely at ease with but if things go as planned, he will not even need to know of this. . . relationship."
She said the word as though it were some kind of disease. "If it makes you feel any better," she finally says, meeting his gaze, "He also happens to be sleeping with other people other than me as well." Robb can feel his eyebrows raise at how nonchalant she sounded, almost as though they were discussing the weather. "I'm not going to force you into anything," she tells him, "It is your choice."
"I want to," he tells her and he means it as well. That sex was perhaps the best of his life. "But I—I don't condone cheating. I may not be particularly close to my Uncle but as much as I would like too, he wouldn't do that to me."
Everra studies him closely and leans over to wrap a hand around his wrist. "I understand," she tells him, shrugging, "Your performance last night was enjoyable." She lets go and stands up. "Be sure to pick up your clothes on your way out. Sleep some more if you wish."
Then she disappears into her bathroom, leaving him all alone.
—
It should have been easy to stop thinking about her.
Before they had been ya know, been together, he had thought about her a lot. In that way. But now, he literally can not stop. He dreams of her, of them every night. He's rarely seen her in the past week since it had happened and he figures that it's for the best. Right? Sleeping with his Uncle's fiancé is bad, despite the fact that he's also cheating on her.
It's bad.
Robb was heading back to the beach house after a day at the beach when he hears sounds. It's sex sounds. And it's loud and it's coming from the pool house. Robb glances through the window on his way to the beach house, ready to chew out Theon for having sex so freaking loudly when his siblings could be coming up from the private beach at any moment when he stops in his tracks.
Because that isn't Theon.
That's his uncle screwing Roslin.
What the fuck? he thinks, before another thought flies through his head, so much for him not doing the same to me.
So you can imagine what he did next.
He runs up to Everra's room, knocks and when he's let in he wastes no time in rushing forward and kissing her.
Yeah he's totally not going to feel guilty anymore.
—
So yeah, the second time Robb wakes up next to Everra and realises that he's kind of screwed up is about a year later. Yeah, he knows that they were supposed to stop whatever—this—was at the end of August but somehow they kept on doing it during Christmas, Easter, whenever they would see each other, which was more sporadic than one would think.
Robb wasn't needed that much in Canada anymore for his father's business when he finally told him that he had no desire to do business whatsoever. His parents were surprisingly cool with it and had fully supported him when he announced his desire to become a writer. Surprise, surprise, his novel had to with adultery.
Yeah, Everra had raised an eyebrow at him when she had first the read his manuscript but she had told him later that it had been a good read, if 'a bit too sentimental at times'. Whatever that meant.
Anyway, Robb woke up next to Everra— about a week before her wedding day— and realised something.
Holy fuck, not only am I sleeping with my Uncle's girlfriend I'm also kinda— really, totally— in love with her. Shit. Okay, he thinks, after two minutes of paralysing panic as she slept next to him, I won't tell her. I'll be fine and get over it.
The moment she's out of bed, he blurts out, "I love you. Please don't marry my Uncle."
A sentence he thought he'd never say.
Everra turned to look at him, her face emotionless.
"You. . . love me?" she asks.
"Yes."
"Oh."
. . .
"Are you going to say anything else?"
"I'm thinking."
Silence.
"Everra?"
Silence.
"Babe—"
"This is not a time for personal endearments, Robb."
Robb sighs before he gets out of the bed and tugs on a pair of sweats before approaching her from behind. He leans his head against her shoulder and murmurs, "You don't love him and he doesn't love you. I don't want to be a top notch CEO and I won't ever betray you. You know that. I love you and I'll wait until things blow over with Edmure." He grips the back of her elbows as he pressed a gentle kiss to her neck. "Please say yes, baby."
Everra sighs softly before turning around to look at him, her expression unreadable. "I still hate romance," she informs him, "the chances of me ever saying what you just said is incredibly slim and near impossible. I probably won't ever want to have kids and I'll be busy with work most of the time." She frowns for a moment before pointing out, "And our relationship is based on an affair that somehow Edmure hasn't even caught on to yet. Or the media for that matter."
Robb didn't say anything.
"You'll wait?" she says finally, causing him to break out into a smile.
"I'll wait."
(He does end up waiting and though they're family is shocked and outraged once they find out about them, they quickly calm down and yeah, it does take three years of them being together— properly— for her to say I love you but he's happy. They're happy.
And at their wedding five years after they got together, when she whispers to him, "I still hate romance." All he does is laugh because he knows that she doesn't mind it that much when it comes to him.)
iv.
Everra stares down at the decorated chest in the servants hands, admiring how the diamond on the top gleamed under the sunlight.
"Send it back," she commanded quietly, though apart of her longed to open it and accept his gifts, she would not be his mistress. Not even if he was the King of England. "What?" her father asked from behind her, "Are you mad?"
"No," she replied briskly, staring into the servants eyes, "Tell the King that while I am very flattered and humbled that he wishes to bestow his affection on me, tell him that I am unworthy of such a gift and do not wish to compromise the vow I made to the Queen to serve her in her household whole heartedly."
The servant blinks at her, once, twice before nodding and murmuring, "My lady," before leaving the room. "You're mad sister," her brother whispers beside her, "He's already bedded Mary—"
"Yes and then he discarded out sister when he got bored," she snaps, "I am not a prostitute."
Though she must admit, the King go England is without a doubt the most handsome and charming man she had ever seen in her life. He had long since been unfaithful to Queen Talisa now that she was unable to bear him children and there were rumours that he wished to set her aside and find someone else to marry in hope of producing a male heir.
Maybe that someone could be you.
—
He sends more gifts and more letters declaring his love for her and she sends them all back. She only ever writes one reply to tell him that while she loves him dearly as her King, she can not accept him into her bed.
One day, when Anne returns from her walk in the gardens, he is there waiting for her.
At Hever.
In her home.
Away from Whitehall and the Queen.
"Your majesty," she murmurs, curtsying. Before she can rise, he grabs a hold of her elbows and crushes her to him, his lips surging for hers. For a moment, she allows herself to kiss him back, desire and warmth pooling in her stomach before she forces herself to pull away.
"I can not."
He groans with frustration as he runs his hands through his auburn hair.
"I love you— I swear that I will desire no other. I will devote all my time, love and affection to you, if you only agree to my mistress. I will give you anything within my power— love, jewels, riches for both you and your family."
It's tempting. It is.
But Everra still won't allow herself to be degraded in such a way.
"Your majesty the only man who I ever intent to give my maiden hand is my husband and whoever he may be, only he will have it." He groans even louder now, his cheeks growing red as he stares at her, "Everra!" he exclaims, frustrated.
"My sister is called the great prostitute my everyone!" She told him, her voice slightly raised, "I will only be with my husband—"
"Then I will become your husband," he suddenly declares, his blue eyes widening as though he just realised something. He kneels down in front of her and grasps a hold of her hands, forcing her to stare into his eyes. "I will make you my Queen, lovely Everra. I swear it. If only you promise to love me now and forever and to be my one and only friend."
"You can not—"
"I will," he promises fervently, pressing kisses onto her hands.
There's silence for a moment before Everra finally whispers, "I do not believe you, your majesty."
His eyes immediately grow disillusioned as he stands up immediately, his expression and voice suddenly curt as he wishes her a good day before stalking away, leaving her alone as tears begin to form in her eyes.
—
He doesn't give up.
He sends her jewels and letters filled with promises. He sends his admirals to Italy to ask for a divorce and begins to publicly live a separate life from Talisa. One day, he sends her a letter that begs her to come back to court.
To him.
She finally does and he surprises her and everyone around him when he leans forward and presses a kiss against her cheek before grasping onto her hand and leading her to the front of the room to sit next to him, where the Queen—who is mysteriously absent— usually sits.
And gradually, Everra believes him.
She falls in love with him. Even as time goes by and the divorce grows farther and farther from sight, she loves him. He's hers. Within the span of two years, she goes from being the daughter of a lower nobleman to the daughter of an Earl and the sister of a Viscount. He makes her a Duchess herself and even calls her 'my queen' during their private moments.
But she grows frustrated with the time that goes by. Her ability to give the King a son grows slimmer with each passing year that goes by, until one day Everra explodes with frustration.
"It has been three years, Robb," she snaps, slapping away his hands when he attempts to comfort her and soothe her. "Where is the divorce? Where are our children? My time is running out— I will not be able to bare any children by the time we manage to get one—"
"That isn't true! We will have children— boys and girls who will grow up as princes and princesses, I swear it. The vatican just needs some more convincing—"
"They will not be convinced— if we can not get a divorce from them perhaps we should get one from somewhere else!"
His eyes grew wide as he took in what she had just said. "You mean you wish for me to separate from the Catholic Church?"
Bitterness swelled inside her.
"You fear the Vatican more than you love me," she accused, moving towards the door, being unable to be in his presence any longer, "You fear your wife more than you love me!"
"Sweetheart— wait, I beg of you—"
Everra whirled and turned to glare at him, her eyes furious, "The next time you call me an endearment, your majesty, it better well be Queen." Then she stormed out of the room and returned home to Hever, in order to escape his wrath.
—
But he does do it for her.
He breaks away from the Catholic Church and makes himself the head of the Church in England, just so that he can marry her.
And they do get married in a splendid ceremony on the first of May.
Everra is declared Queen in the same ceremony and when the crown is first placed on her head, Robb leans over and whispers in her ear, "We are going to create a dynasty to last the ages."
And they do.
v.
The one universe where they don't make it, it's because she died.
But they do end up together.
In Heaven or Hell or wherever.
And as Robb wakes up in this. . . other life with her by his side, just as beautiful as the day she died, he wouldn't have it any other way.
