So sorry for the long delay. I had to finish some projects for school, but now I have a lighter week so I will be able to work more on this story!

10868letsgo: You'll just have to wait and see what happens!

DullReign82: Ooh Katie McGrath is stunning and definitely fits my idea of what Raya looks like. I kind of made her looks more ambiguous for a reason, but Katie McGrath is a good example of what I picture her looking like. And thank you, I'm glad you liked the bedding scene. I was a little nervous for writing it but I'm glad it turned out well. I'm glad you're enjoying the story! Unfortunately I don't have a lot of time to update consistently but I do try every chance I get!

Enjoy!

Raya is sitting on the end of the bed when Robb enters his room that night. She's in her robe, staring into the fire. The flames dance across her face as she's lost in thought, paying no mind to him as he enters. For a moment he wonders if she heard him enter at all, his footsteps quiet so he doesn't startle her as he walks closer to the bed.

"I was ten years old." She begins speaking, startling him instead. He stills his movements, not wanting to interrupt her. "Domeric and I had been playing with the butcher's son. We had dared him to steal something from the baker without being caught, but he wasn't fast enough. My father was whipping in him the courtyard to punish him for stealing. I hated the idea of him being punished for something my brother and I made him do, so I tried to stop my father. Instead, my father turned the whip on me. He wanted to make sure I understood never to openly oppose him again."

Robb moves over to her side, sitting next to her. "Raya-"

"I was thirteen. I had been fooling around with one of my father's men's sons. Locke's son. My father caught us when he had his pants down around his ankles in front of me. My father was going to beat him bloody, but I took the punishment instead. My father bent me over my bed and hit me with a switch. Domeric couldn't stand seeing me getting punished, so he took half my punishment. Every scar I have, except this one," She traces the scar on the inside of her arm. "Was from my father inflicting some sort of punishment for something I did wrong, or something I did that made him upset."

Robb clenches his fists, feeling rage boiling up inside him. "I'll kill him. How dare he put his hands on you."

Raya grabs him before he can get up. "Robb, please. It's in the past now. Let's keep it there. Bringing it up now won't do any good."

"Why are you telling me this?" He asks, still angry, still wanting to enact his justice just like he had told himself he would when he found out.

She takes his hands in hers, keeping him on the bed. "All my life I knew I had to marry someone who wasn't like my father. Someone who wasn't cruel and calculating and wouldn't hurt my future children. Who wouldn't hurt them. Promise me, Robb. Promise me you won't be like him. Promise me you won't enact such cruelty on our child." She takes one of his hands, placing it on her stomach.

It takes him a moment, the rage still boiling in him but he feels it quickly dissipating as his mind catches up. "You're…" She nods, an unsure look on her face as she stares at him. "A big grin breaks out on his face and he pulls her into his arms. "I promise. I promise I will never lay a hand on you or our children." He pulls away from her, cupping her face. "How long have you known?"

She smiles at him, a genuine smile now. "I found out today. Your mother was the first to think of it. Maester Luwin says I'm close to two months now."

Robb grins happily, kissing her head. "We have to tell my family!"

Raya laughs, a sound he hasn't heard before. He finds he likes the sound, wanting to hear it all the time. "It's late. We can tell them at breakfast."

Robb pulls her in for a kiss, his arms wrapping around her. She presses close to him, opening herself to him. The rage he had been feeling is gone now, replaced by joy at this new revelation. He would be a father. Raya is pregnant with their child, and in less than eight months they'd have a child of their own. The thought makes his heart race in his chest, excitement filling him as he holds her. Perhaps this was the revelation they needed.

A change seems to come over Raya as the months pass by. Robb has never seen her quite like she is now. She smiles and laughs, her smile lighting up her face completely now instead of the tight, forced smiles she used to give. She had been more open with him too. After she had told him about her scars, the things she had experienced living in the Dreadfort, it was like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Robb could see it. She no longer felt the need to try to hide from him. He had thought it ridiculous. He had known they were there since their wedding night, but he had let her have her sense of dignity and safety in trying to hide them. But since she had told him the truth, she no longer hid herself from him. She let him touch her, let him explore her smooth skin, and where the scars marred it. The wedge that had been sitting between them was gone, and he found himself drawn closer and closer to her. Raya's walls were coming down with each passing day, and she finds she doesn't mind.

She's beginning to show more and more as the weeks pass, her stomach swelling as their child grows. She can feel the baby now, moving in her womb. Robb often sat at night with her, his hand on her stomach trying to feel the baby. Every so often it would kick or push against his hand, and a bright smile would form on his face. He was just as excited as her, and just as nervous. He's not sure he'll be a good father. He had helped raise his siblings, and he had been under the careful hand of his father his entire life, but now facing the actuality of being a father himself...he's not sure he'll be good at it. Raya was sharing the same fear, not having a mother to look to for advice or model herself after. Her father's cruelty and stony disposition skewed her idea of parenting. She would not be treating her children as her father had treated her and her brother.

"You're thinking again." Robb says from his position next to her on their bed. She's on her back, hands smoothing over her rounded stomach.

She's nearly eight months along and starting to feel the weight of her pregnancy now. Her ankles are swollen and her back aches when she stands for too long. Walking is uncomfortable, and she often has to stop and rest when walking across the castle. Her desire for her child to leave her body has moved from excitement to have them finally with her and now to relief from the aches and pains she was having. She's constantly tired as well, sneaking away whenever she can to rest. She's sure more than once Lady Stark has let her be for longer than necessary so she can rest.

"Care to share what's on your mind?" Robb prods again, laying on his side next to her. He knows the tolls his child is taking on his wife's body. He can see it even when she doesn't know he can.

"Another month and we'll be parents. It's amazing how fast a month can pass when you're waiting for something."

"But it can also feel like it's taking a lifetime."

She turns her head, smiling at him. "It can. I will be glad when it is over. For both my sake and our child's. Not that being pregnant is not wonderful, but I am more than ready for our child to arrive."

Robb chuckles. "I am too. I'm terrified, but I am excited as well." She nods, wincing as the baby gives a particularly hard kick. "I think he agrees as well."

She shakes her head. "You're still convinced it is a boy?"

He nods. "I would bet on it."

She grins. "Septa Mordane says it will be a girl based on how I'm carrying her."

He laughs, pressing a kiss to her lips. "I will love them the same, regardless."

"As will I."

Raya may have been good at needlework, but it was not something she particularly enjoyed, especially with the baby as active as it was. She was not comfortable sitting for long periods of time, nor was she comfortable standing. She had learned she would resign her ability to be comfortable for the next month or two. Even after the birth there would be discomfort for a short time while her body readjusted. Her father had warned her of the pains of childbirth, but he had not been capable of warning her of the discomfort that came before. He also hadn't warned her of the constant need to make water. The baby had a habit of sitting in the wrong spot, making her feel as if her bladder is full.

This is one of those times.

She stands up from her stool, excusing herself as she feels the pressure in her bladder again. She's glad for a break from needlework, heading back to the Keep to find a chamber pot. Robb would be in the training grounds with the boys, helping Bran with his archery. She would have rather been there, but she was a lady, soon to be a mother. The training grounds was no place for her anymore.

She had just finished and was taking a moment to sit when Robb enters the room. He smiles at her, moving to grab his sword belt and cloak. "Avoiding needlework again?"

She smiles. "The baby has good timing." She watches him strap on his sword. "Is everything alright?"

"There was a deserter from the Night's Watch." She nods. She knew about what happened to deserters. Perhaps if she had not been pregnant, she would have gone too. Robb fastens his cloak before kneeling in front of her. "I will be back in a few hours." He kisses her softly, his hand on her stomach for a moment before he gets up, leaving her in his room.

She's still in Robb's room when he returns a few hours later. She had left for the midday meal, but had returned shortly after to rest. She was more exhausted than normal and had spent the day in bed. That's where Robb finds her, curled up in bed before dinner. She sits up when he enters, spotting the wiggling mass of fur in his arms. She gives him a questioning glance as he moves over to the bed, placing the mass on the furs. Raya gasps as she finally sees what it is.

"Robb…"

"We found them on our way back." He removes his sword and cloak before joining her on the bed. "Their mother was killed, skewered by a stag horn. Great big beast."

"There hasn't been a direwolf south of the Wall in…"

"Two hundred years." Robb finishes for her. "And now there are six. One for each of the Stark children, even Jon."

Raya watches the small direwolf pup as he sniffs around the furs. His own fur is light, almost white but his back is grey. Raya can't help but feel nervous as she watches the pup. He's young now, but he's still a wild animal. "Are you sure it is a good idea to have him around the baby?"

Robb looks up at her. "He is young. I will care for him and train him. We will not let him close to the baby until he has grown and is more well trained. We will certainly not let him near the baby unsupervised." He cups her cheek. "The baby is more important. If the direwolf poses any threat to the baby, then I will release him. I will not let any harm come to our child."

Raya nods, looking back to the direwolf. He's come closer to her now, sniffing at her stomach. She reaches out, running her hand over his small head. His fur is soft despite being caked with mud. He sniffs at her hand before licking her fingers, making her laugh. "I suppose it is worth a try. Does he have a name yet?"

Robb is silent for a moment, his hand running over the direwolf's back. "Grey Wind. His name is Grey Wind."

Raya smiles. "Remind me to approve of our child's name before it is made official."

Robb laughs, pulling her into his arms. "Hey! Grey Wind is not a bad name! Rickon was allowed to name his own direwolf himself. Grey Wind now has a brother named Shaggydog."

Raya can't help but laugh. "But he is just a boy! It is cute!"

Robb shakes his head, pulling Raya in for a quick kiss. "There was a raven that came from King's Landing as well. The Hand of the King, Jon Arryn died. He was a dear friend of my father's. The letter also said the King is riding North."

"The King?"

Robb nods. "With a large company no doubt. They will be slow moving, and will arrive within a month's time."

Raya sighs, putting a hand on her stomach. "I hope you have good timing, little one."