So, the reason why I went onto hiatus is because I had gotten my hand somewhat crushed, and by somewhat I just mean it got crushed. It sucked ass, but you don't go through life without some pain, so it is what it is. Anyways, I apologize for the delay and hope you enjoy this latest installment of Southern Boy, Northern Man.

Robb couldn't help but sigh as he paced back and forth.

It had been weeks since Leon received the news about his father, and since then, Leon hadn't been quite the same.

That was putting it mildly.

In reality Leon's attitude and lifestyle had changed drastically to the point where his mother was thinking of taking him home to his family.

It was understandable for Leon to be depressed and not want to spend time with really anyone, but it had gone on for far too long now.

Training sessions put in to place by Ser Rodrick were being skipped, meals with the family were being unattended, and from what he had heard a concerning amount of weight had been lost these past two weeks.

"I can't say I know what it is like to lose someone so close to me, but he's my friend, and I'm sure if his father was alive he wouldn't want to see him like this as well."

He didn't know much about Leon's father or how much the man had exactly meant to him, but it was clear the man meant a lot to him which was why Robb didn't want to come off as unsympathetic when speaking to Leon.

That was the last thing he wanted.

What he wants is to come off as understanding, and caring. He wanted to make it clear as day that while he is sorry for Leon's loss, he is very much concerned for his well-being.

With another sigh emerging from his lips once more Robb thought. "I think I understand why father has a grim expression most of the time. He's busy thinking about stuff like this."

Of course, Robb wasn't being completely serious about this, but he did wonder a little why his father had a long face the majority of the time.

Realizing he was starting to get off track Robb shook his head a little and thought to himself. "Anyways, I think I have a good idea of what I'm going to say to him."

He wasn't sure if what he was going to say would get Leon to snap out of this state of mind he was in, but it beat sitting around and doing nothing.

At least, that's what Robb thought. He was no expert when it came to consoling someone, so he really had no idea what to do besides offering his sympathies to the person mourning.

With a slightly determined expression written on his face, the Heir to Winterfell began to make his way to Leon's room.

It didn't take him long to reach it, and upon arriving he tried to open the door only to be unsuccessful.

The door wouldn't budget at all no matter how hard he tried, which led the young Stark boy to the conclusion that the door was locked.

He sighed at this and whispered in a low tone his annoyance. "Really Leon? You're going to have the door locked?"

With slight irritation etched onto his face, Robb did the only thing he could do.

He knocked on the door.

He didn't say anything at first and simply waited for a response, but after several seconds of hearing nothing from the other side, he knocked on it again while saying. "Leon! Leon, it's me, Robb, can you open the door?"

Silence was the response Robb got, which made him frown.

"Open the door, Leon. We need to-"

"I don't want to talk, Robb." Interrupted Leon, his voice somewhat muffled due to the door between them. "I just want to be alone."

"How long do you want to be left alone, Leon?" He queried as his frown deepened. "I, and everyone else here have tried to give you as much time and space as you need to mourn, but it's starting to become a concern. From what I've heard you lost a decent amount of weight due to your lack of eating."

"... The loss of weight is nothing compared to the loss of my father, Robb." Leon claimed after some time causing Robb to grit his teeth out of frustration.

"I'm not saying it is, but don't you think he would be upset with himself if he heard what's happened to you?" Robb retorted loudly as he put his fist against the door.

"..."

Leon did not respond which only increased Robb's frustration, but not enough to where he lost his coolheaded demeanor.

"Leon-"

"What does it matter now?" Leon asked curtly. "He's dead and there's nothing I can do to bring him back."

"Leon," He replied in a tired yet sympathetic tone as he put more of his weight on the door. "Don't let this consume you. I can't say I've been in your position or understand how it feels to lose my father, but I know that if he were here he would be agreeing with me and telling you to not let his death affect you like this."

"..."

Leon remained quiet for quite some time, but after a while, Robb heard the sound of the door unlocking.

He backed up upon hearing this and was soon greeted by Leon who was definitely in need of a bath and some food.

"So, how do I move on from this, Robb?" Leon asked as he stared at him, he had a cold and lifeless look in his eyes.

Robb didn't answer at first, and just simply stared at Leon who had turned his gaze elsewhere after a while out of what could only be considered shame and embarrassment. He wasn't aware of Leon's exact weight before the loss of his father, but it was obvious he had certainly lost some weight these past couple of weeks. Of course, after seeing him, Robb had his doubts of it being a super unhealthy number, but the fact that he had lost some weight was a problem nonetheless.

"If he's going to live in the North then he needs to be as healthy as he can be. That's what father would say to convince us to eat the food we don't want to eat."

That wasn't all his father would tell him, but that was besides the point. The point was that Leon needed to eat, and so that's the first thing he planned on doing.

"First, let's go get you something to eat, you look like you haven't eaten in days." Said Robb as he turned around and began walking towards the kitchen.

"I don't really have an appetite right now, Robb." Leon claimed as he remained in the doorway.

"Well, make one then." Was the response Robb gave him as he looked over his shoulder at him and smiled slightly. "If you're to get past this, then you need to do more than just sit around inside your room. You gotta go out, and do things, or else you'll never move on."

"But isn't that what I did before?" Leon inquired with a slightly confused look as he stepped out of the doorway. "I tried to act as if nothing had happened but couldn't."

At this, Robb had to resist from giving Leon a questioning look, for that was not at all how he acted when the news of his father's death came to him. How he had acted was the complete opposite of that, at least from what he saw.

"Well, that's not what I'm telling you to do, Leon." Robb asserted after a couple of seconds as he turned to look at him and crossed his arms. "And maybe that's why you're having a difficult time right now? You aren't accepting that he is-"

"I know he is gone, Robb." Leon interrupted as he glared at him. "I am very well aware of that, it's just... Not easy to move on from."

"No one ever said it was." Robb pointed out with a small smile as he moved towards him. "But no one ever said you had to do it alone. Jon and I are here for you and will do our best to help your get through this, but you have to let us do that. No one can if you don't let anyone."

As he told him this, Robb put a reassuring had on him, and gave his shoulder a slight squeeze before letting go of him and walking away.

Leon didn't say anything in response and simply watched Robb walk away for a short while before slowly following after him.

After following Robb to the kitchen the two made their way to the great hall and sat down. It wouldn't be long before the food was ready, but they had some time.

"So, is it alright if I ask you what your father was like?" Inquired Robb with a curious look.

"... Yes." Answered Leon after a bit of contemplation.

He had almost said no but then remembered what Robb had said moments ago and thought it was best to see where this leads.

Ignoring the bluntness in Leon's voice, Robb grinned a little and said. "Okay, what was he like? Was he strong and caring or...?"

He had trailed off leaving Leon to guess what he was thinking about, but the boy had already thought of his answer the moment the question was uttered. "He was caring, but the duties of being a lord made it hard for him to spend time with us. I never understood why and had asked my mother once when I was around five why I rarely saw him at breakfast or dinner, but she told me that it was because he loved us and that I would understand one day when I'm older. I still don't understand why, but I guess it's because being lord of a household is time-consuming?"

Robb absorbed this all with a solemn expression before slowly nodding his head. "If I had to say anything on the matter, then I would say that it is very time-consuming. It makes me dread a little the days of becoming Lord Stark, and envious of my brother Jon."

Leon widened his eyes a little at the mentioning of Jon. He had never expected those words to come out of Robb and was curious why he would be jealous of him. "You're envious of Jon?" He questioned with a somewhat confused expression as Robb looked up at him. "I'm sorry, but I don't really see why you would be, in fact, I'm pretty sure it should be the other way around."

"I'm not that envious of him, I'm just a little bit, Leon." Robb asserted. "Unlike me, he will be able to do whatever he wants when he gets older. He can ride South, sail to Essos, or stay here and do really nothing whereas I will have to stay here and be Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North. My fate was determined the moment I was born while his was not."

At this, Leon nodded. He now understood where Robb was coming from and could now see why Robb could be a little jealous of him. However, that did not mean Jon had it better off than Jon.

"But unlike him, you have a loving and caring mother." He pointed out in a serious tone.

"Yes, but that does not mean I can't be a little jealous of him can it?" Robb rebutted as he gave Leon a long and solemn look.

"No, but I don't think you should assume he has it easier than you." Leon claimed hesitantly. "He is a bastard, and they're looked down on by a lot of people."

"... True, but even then that does not mean he can't become anything." Robb declared after some time. "If Jon wants to become a lord, then he easily can become one as long as he proves himself worthy of one."

At this, all Leon could say was, "I guess," in a reluctant manner as he looked away.

Meanwhile, Robb smiled for Leon had noticed this, but he wasn't acting like he had been for the past few weeks. He had acted like his old self which made it clear to him that Leon was capable of getting past the loss of his father.

He just needs a helping hand to do so.

Geez, I change my writing style like every chapter. I should just stick to one. Anyways I'm going to probably do some revising, so there might be some small additions in the previous parts. I'll let you all know in the next update, but until then, we'll just have to wait and see.