I so wanted to get this one out last night but my dog wanted to cuddle so I couldn't finish it in time. Hopefully the next one will be out before tomorrow.

10868letsgo: It is exciting! And thank you! I'm glad you like it!

white seprent: Yes, there's going to be a baby! And I can't make any promises!

DullReign82: She definitely feels better after sharing the truth with Robb. It's definitely a weight off her shoulders.

Enjoy!

A rider had sent news back to Winterfell. The King would arrive the next day by midday. Raya realizes her child does not have good timing. It had started early that morning. She had woken up and thought the baby had kicked again at first, but this pain is different. Instead of a sharp ache this is a deeper kind of ache, lower in her stomach than where the baby sits. It's a pressure, long and slow and deep.

The pain passes after a few moments, but there's an uncomfortable feeling that won't pass. The sky is still dark, the castle silent. Raya knows what's happening without having to be told. She's not sure how long she lays there awake. The pain does not come again for a while as she lays there, counting her breaths. The sky is still dark, Robb lightly snoring next to her. The fire is low, Robb having gotten up in the night to stoke it back to life.

The second pain hits her a couple hours later, at her guess. The sky is just lightening, the inky blackness outside the window now a deep grey. She breathes as the pain rolls through her; the pressure pushing against her womb. The King would arrive on the morrow, and so would her child.

She carefully slides out of bed as the pain passes, pulling on her robe and slippers. Robb is still sound asleep, showing no sign he noticed her movements. She's quiet as she slips out the door, heading to the Maester's chambers. The castle is still quiet and dark, her candle lighting the way as she climbs the steps slowly. Maester Luwin is already dressed when he answers the door. He doesn't look surprised to see her, letting her enter his chambers.

"The pains have started." He says as she takes a seat near the fire. She hadn't needed to say anything. "How often?"

"One every couple of hours."

He nods. "I have no doubt your baby will come before the day is up. The pains will continue, and they will get more frequent. You need not worry until they are almost constant. There will be a rush of fluid and that is how you will know it is time. The best you can do now is work through the pains as they come. Keep someone close to you today. You do not want to be caught without help."

She nods, thanking the Maester before taking her leave. They had been waiting almost nine months for this day and it had finally arrived. Raya thought she would be excited, but she can't shake the fear. So much could go wrong in the next few hours. She's not sure she could handle something like that. She's not sure Robb could either.

Robb is sitting on the edge of the bed pulling on his boots when she gets back. Grey Wind is sitting by the door. He'd grown so quickly in the month they'd had him. All six direwolves had grown quickly. Grey Wind had proven to be a loyal companion. He followed Robb everywhere, and he'd follow Raya when he wasn't with Robb. He often laid his head in her lap, his nose pressed against her stomach as if he understood.

Grey Wind lets out a whine as she enters, Robb visibly relaxing. "I woke up, and you were gone."

She shuts the door, giving him an apologetic smile. "Sorry. I went to see Maester Luwin. I had pains this morning. Different ones." Robb looks up at her as she approaches him. "He says the baby will be here before the day is up."

Robb wraps his arms around her once she's close enough, resting his forehead on her large stomach. "It's finally come then."

She nods. "Yes. Horrible timing really."

Robb chuckles. "At least you won't have to worry about greeting the King tomorrow."

"Hopefully he won't be insulted by my absence."

Robb shakes his head. "If the stories father told us are true, he won't mind. He has children of his own. He'll understand."

Raya nods, running her fingers through his auburn hair. She hopes their child looks like him. His big blue eyes, his hair. She traces the lines of his face as she looks at him, lost in his eyes. She's not sure if it's the pregnancy affecting her or if it's her own emotions she's feeling, but there's something warm, something blossoming in her chest as she looks at him. They had spent nearly a year together now, and while they had grown closer through her pregnancy, she had left her feelings at a fondness for him.

Robb stands from his seat on the bed, still holding her. In a matter of hours their baby would be in their arms. So much could happen in those few hours, but Robb was intent on making sure everything went smoothly. "Are you hungry?"

She shakes her head. "No. But I know I should eat."

Robb nods, offering his arm. "Breakfast will be ready soon. No doubt mother will want to know of the situation."

Raya nods, taking his arm. He leads her to the door, Grey Wind moving to follow. Robb goes to tell him to stay but Raya stops him. "Let him come. I'll feel better with him near."

Robb nods, leading her and Grey Wind down the stairs slowly, Grey Wind beside Raya the entire way, eyes watching carefully. It's a slow walk to the hall for breakfast, the sun rising behind a cover of clouds. The air is crisp and cool but Raya doesn't mind. She had been warm all morning, and the air feels nice against her heated skin. The hall is still relatively empty in the early hours of the morning, Robb sending a serving girl to fetch them food from the kitchens. Robb eases Raya onto a bench at a table for a moment. The ache that had been present since this morning is still throbbing, but she has yet to experience another of the more intense pains she had felt earlier. Robb sits beside her, gently rubbing her back.

"Are you alright?"

Raya nods. "Yes. I never realized how far of a walk it is until now."

Robb chuckles, kissing her head. "Mother said the same thing when she was pregnant with Rickon."

"She said it with all of her pregnancies."

Robb rises as his father approaches them with a smile. "Father. It is going to happen today." Robb can hardly contain his excitement.

Ned looks between the two. "You are sure?"

"Maester Luwin says the baby will come before the day is over, Lord Stark." Raya says.

"This is wonderful news." He turns to Robb. "Your mother is waking your siblings still. She will want to hear the news." Robb nods, squeezing Raya's shoulder before leaving the hall to find his mother.

Ned sits down on the bench beside Raya, offering her a kind smile. "Impeccable timing."

Raya laughs. "I know."

"Robert will understand. No doubt he will be happy to have an excuse for another celebration." It's silent between them for a moment. "Are you worried?"

Raya bites her lip for a moment. "Yes. I don't know how to be a mother. I barely know how to be a lady."

Ned smiles at her, taking her hand. "We can prepare all we want to be parents, but often we feel unprepared when the time comes. I did not know how to be a father when Robb was born. I thought it would be easy, but I found myself lost as to what to do. No one can really prepare themselves. Every child is different. Five times now I've found myself humbled when I was confident in my abilities to be a parent. Every child is a learning experience. I think you will do just fine as a mother."

Raya smiles at him. "Thank you, Lord Stark."

Robb stays with Raya for the rest of the day. Lady Stark had hoped the baby would come quickly and her labor would be short, but dinner had passed and there was no sign of the baby coming soon. Her pains were still nearly half an hour apart and showed no signs of change. She had taken to pacing about their room, Robb sitting on the bed feeling helpless. He wants to help her but he knows there's nothing he can do. Grey Wind lays in front of the fire, watching her as well. She breathes through the pains as they come; the night getting later.

Robb finally convinces her to lie down, helping her change into her nightgown before joining her in bed. Her breathing is heavy as she lays there, her eyes closed. He holds her hand, trying to offer her as much comfort as he can. Raya's discomfort is bad, and the pains are growing closer but they're taking their time.

"You should get some rest." She looks at Robb as another pain passes.

"I want to be here for you." He cups her cheek.

"I'll be alright. I promise I'll wake you."

He looks like he wants to argue but he sighs, nodding. He wraps an arm around her, leaning his head against her arm. He's out in a matter of minutes, but Raya can't find sleep. The pressure has increased now too, along with the pains. She lays awake for a long while, Grey Wind watching her while Robb sleeps.

Grey Wind rises a short time later, moving to her side. He sniffs at her stomach before sitting beside the bed, whining quietly. A pain shoots through her then, worse than the others she's felt, a rush of fluid coming out between her legs, soaking the bed. She gasps, shaking Robb's shoulder.

"Robb! Robb! It's time!" Robb jerks awake, sitting up. "Get Maester Luwin. It's time."