Just a short filler. Things will start picking up in the next one.

DullReign82: You'll have to read to find out!

KMK101: Thank you! Glad you're enjoying it!

Crystal-Wolf-Guardian-967: Thank you!

Enjoy!

The wine Robb drank at the feast has warmed his blood. He doesn't feel the bite of cold in the air as he makes his way to the Keep. The feast is still going, but he was getting tired and he wanted to be with Raya. He misses having her at his side, and as much as he enjoyed being with his family, he wanted his wife and his son close.

He opens the bedroom door, entering quietly. Raya is relaxed on the bed where she'd spent the day, her head turning to look at him as he enters. He smiles softly at her, dismissing the maid for the night. Edrick is fast asleep in his crib, Robb watching him for a moment before stripping out down to his smallclothes. He joins Raya on the bed, carefully laying down next to her to not jostle her too much. He lays down on his side, leaning his head in his hand as he stares down at her.

"How was the feast?" She asks him, smiling up at him.

"Not all that exciting. The king got drunk and fondled a serving girl. Arya threw food at Sansa again."

"So aside from the King it was like a normal dinner?"

Robb laughs. "Just with more people."

Raya laughs, but she quiets quickly. He can see her thinking about something, her brow furrowing slightly like it always does when she's lost in thought. "I meant what I said last night." She finally says. Robb stays quiet, letting her continue. "After Edrick was born. I-I'm not sure what love is. I don't think I've ever felt it...it was never shown to me it that I can remember. Not until I met you. Watched your family, your mother and father...I never thought I would get that. I never thought...I can't even describe it. It's...it's this feeling in my chest, this warmth, this-this pressure that makes me feel like I will burst and I want to laugh and cry and my body feels strange whenever I feel it and it's not just because of the pregnancy or Edrick-"

Robb cuts her off, pressing his lips to hers. She relaxes as he kisses her, her hand tangling in his hair. "It's okay. You're not supposed to be able to describe love. It's something you just feel." He cups her cheek, looking down at her. "I meant what I said too. I'm in love with you as well. I have been for a while now. I was afraid to tell you, afraid I might scare you away."

Raya shakes her head. "I'm not going anywhere, Robb. I'll be by your side for the rest of my life. I made that promise when I married you. And I intend to keep it."

Robb smiles at her, stroking her cheek for a moment before bringing his lips to hers again.

Raya is determined to get up the next day. She's still sore and bleeding some, but she's determined to finally greet their royal guests, and let Edrick get a view of Winterfell that's not just his parent's room. Robb doesn't want her to push herself, but he can't convince her otherwise. She's made her mind up and there's no changing it.

She's slow going, Robb by her side as she makes her way down the stairs and out of the Keep. It's nearly midday, the castle alive with more people than Raya's ever seen in Winterfell. The King really had brought as many men and Robb had said. Even if Raya had not been moving so slow because of the pain, she would have been because of the many times she's stopped. Everyone wants to get a look at Robb's son, and Raya gladly lets them. She can see Robb beaming with pride every time someone compliments their son and congratulates them. Raya hasn't seen him so happy before, and she finds she likes it. She feels proud as well. She had made him like that. She had made him happy.

Robb leads her towards the Great hall, ambling for her sake. "The king is excited to meet you."

"Oh, good." Raya says, swallowing nervously.

"Don't be nervous. King Robert isn't as bad as you think."

"Easy for you to say. Your father is like a brother to him."

Robb gives her a reassuring look. "It will be fine. If things go bad, we'll just show him Edrick. Everyone loves looking at babies."

Raya lets Robb escort her into the hall. The king is sitting at the head table with Lord Stark and another man Raya does not recognize. Guards line the hall, both Stark men and men from King's Landing. All eyes turn to them as they enter, King Robert rising from his spot at the head of the table. He's bigger than Raya's father had painted him to be, but the last time her father had seen the king was nine years before during the Greyjoy Rebellion.

"So this is the woman who is causing almost as much uproar around here as I am." The king says, Robb and Raya coming to a stop in front of him.

"My wife, Lady Raya." Robb says.

Raya dips into a small curtsy, pushing away the ache still between her legs. "It's an honor, your grace."

The king studies her. "What house did you come from?"

"Bolton, your grace." Raya answers.

"Bolton? You're pretty for a Bolton."

Raya smiles. It's not the first time she's heard that. "Thank you, your grace. I've been told I take after my mother."

"Which wife was she?"

"The second. Bethany Ryswell."

The king nods. "I never had the chance to meet your mother, or his first wife for that matter. I've met Roose Bolton a handful of times. Always unnerved me."

"He has that effect, your grace. It's his eyes."

The king laughs, Edrick fussing. "And this must be the little one causing all the fuss around here."

Robb smiles proudly at Raya. "Our son, your grace. Edrick Stark."

"Let me see him." Raya hesitates for a fraction of a second before passing Edrick to the king. The king is surprisingly tender as he holds the newborn, looking down at him. "Cute little thing. Looks like his father. He'll be a strong one indeed." Raya takes Edrick back from the king, thanking him. "Come, it's almost time for the next meal of the day." The king turns back around, making his way back to the table.

Raya hadn't noticed the servers bringing in food already. She was hungry, not having much of a stomach for food the day before. Raya passes Edrick to his nurse before letting Robb lead her to the table. They're joined by the rest of the Starks and the Baratheons before too long. Robb keeps her pressed close against his side during their meal, Raya conversing with the queen about Edrick. She's not as intimidated as she thought she would be at meeting the royal family. As a Bolton, the closest she'd thought she'd get to meeting royalty would be meeting the Starks. But now she is a Stark and having dinner with the king and his family. It's far more than she'd ever thought she'd get the chance to do in her life. Getting married to the heir of Winterfell and having children, talking with the queen about her son over lunch. It's more than she could have ever expected from her life.

Edrick is fussy that night. Both Robb and Raya have done everything they can think of to try to quiet him, but nothing seems to work. He'll quiet for a moment before he'll fuss once again. Currently Robb is pacing the room, gently rocking Edrick in his arms. Raya's stretched out on the bed, watching him.

"I don't know what to do, Robb." She says, her eyes following him across the room. "We've tried everything. He's not hungry, he doesn't need to be changed, he's not tired."

Robb moves to the side of the bed, sitting down. "Mother said babies are the most fussy for the first month, sometimes two. She said Sansa screamed nearly every day for two months. Edrick is only two days old now, almost."

Raya sighs. "We've got a long way to go."

Robb nods. "We do. But it will go fast."

Raya smiles, resting her head on Robb's shoulder. "But we'll be there for him. For every step and word and every laugh and every tear that's shed." Robb rests his head on hers as Edrick yawns. "No matter what happens, we'll be there."

Robb kisses the top of her head. "We will be."