AN: Thank you all so, so much for your wonderful responses to the last chapter! I'm so glad to see everybody enjoying this story and it inspires me to write as fast as I can!

Also, I hope nobody thinks I am ignoring their questions regarding Jon's future and the Wall. I am seeing all of your questions, I just don't want to give away anything I have planned!

Thanks again for your support!

Waking up in Jon Snow's arms, Rose felt more relaxed than she ever remembered being in her life.

She was laying with her bare back pressed up against his equally naked body. His arm was draped across her.

Rose turned around, carefully moving as to not wake up Jon. She watched him sleep, her eyes studying his handsome face. She reached up, moving one of his black curls that had fallen in front of his face. Slowly, she pushed it away, her fingers combing through his mussed hair and her arm resting on his shoulder. He stirred and his eyes slowly began to open. Rose started to pull her arm away, her cheeks turning pink and warm when she saw him smile at her as he awoke.

"Good morning." he said to her. His voice sounded dazed, matching his eyes. Still, he smiled.

She couldn't stop a small curl on the corner of her lips as she sat up, pushing the furs off of her. "A good morning to you as well."

His smile dropped when she sat up so abruptly.

They were both silent, not sure what to say in their situation. Jon simply watched Rose comb her fingers through her blonde locks, pulling out the tangles from the previous night.

When she swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up, Rose felt a strange soreness in between her legs as a reminder of what she experienced last night. She felt a small shiver down her spine, remembering Jon's touch. Her walk was a bit awkward for the first step or two as she adjusted, but she got over it quickly as she began to find underclothes and a chemise to dress herself.

Jon sat up and watched her, noticing her strange steps. "Are you alright? Did I hurt you?" His voice was laced with genuine concern. When she turned to face him, Rose could also see it in his eyes.

She smiled mischievously at him. "I am alright. You did quite the opposite of hurting me, you know."

"I- so you did enjoy it?" he said, looking down bashfully when he spoke.

Rose let out a small, sly giggle before she responded. "Oh, I certainly enjoyed it. Especially that thing you did with your tongue. Where does a virgin go to learn that? Unless, you lied about being a virgin."

He lifted his head quickly when he heard her accusation. "I didn't lie! Why would I lie about that?" he replied, defiantly.

"So you are just born with the ability to pleasure a woman like that?" she said with a laugh.

Jon smirked at her response, a hint of pride behind it. He pushed away the furs that once covered his body as he got out of bed, looking for wherever he put his clothing.

They both began to dress themselves in silence.

After Rose had finished dressing, she went to brush her hair. In the mirror, she could see Jon behind her. He was watching her as he absentmindedly laced up his brown leather shirt.

"Do you think anybody will notice you are wearing the same clothing you wore last night?" she asked him.

In response, he shrugged. "I don't know, and I couldn't see why they would care."

The young blonde continued to brush her golden hair until it was as smooth. She pulled the front pieces to the back and tied them with a ribbon. It was the best she could do without Alessa there to help.

While Rose was still styling her hair, Jon took the moment to gaze over her dressed form. She wore a golden, silk gown with an intricate, ivory colored floral pattern. The trim was the same crimson as was in the Lannister's sigil. Her pashmina was a similar shade of red and emblazoned with a golden lion. That, coupled with her golden hair and jade colored eyes, brought him back to the reality of his situation.

He had fucked a Lannister. A small voice in his head tried to remind him that Rose was a bastard and different from the queen and her family. Still, he couldn't shake the thought of her having the blood of the lion. It just didn't sit well with Jon, no matter how he thought about it.

"In any event," she said, pulling Jon out of his thoughts, "you should still change. Somebody could notice and ask questions."

He nodded in response. "Then I will return to my own chambers and do so."

She smiled and gave him a small nod. "Good. Well, I must go find my brother and handmaiden."

Rose walked past him and paused, putting her hand on the doorknob and listening for anybody outside. She refused to get caught with a man in her chambers, especially the bastard of Winterfell.

Jon had stood behind her. Before she opened the door, he reached behind her and put his hands on her hips, smiling. "So," he began, "will we do this again?"

She immediately tensed up when he touched her. Why was he being so forward all of a sudden? Did he not realize their relationship couldn't leave her room? Rose desperately wanted to return his affection, but she couldn't. They had to keep this quiet and without romantic feelings whatsoever. She only wanted to come here and meet the bastard, possibly making a new friend. The casual fucking had never been part of her plan and even now she cannot figure out why she suggested it. But she did and worst of all she liked it. She wanted to continue doing this with him as long as she was here, but before they can lie together again, Rose needed to figure out how to keep her sprouting feelings for him out of this.

When Jon felt her tense up at his touch, his smile faded and he slowly pulled away.

"Yes, just meet me here tonight when all of the others have gone to bed. I'll make sure Alessa is gone."

Her tone was very matter-of-fact. It made Jon slightly uncomfortable and confused. This was all her idea and now that he was just as interested she seemed... distant.

"I... did I offend you, Rose?"

She shook her head. "No. We just... this... nobody can know." Her back was still towards him and she would not look him in the eye when she spoke.

He nodded reluctantly. "I know."

Rose could not hear anybody outside the door so she opened it, slowly. She did not see anybody either.

"I'll leave first. You wait a few moments and then go." she whispered before quickly leaving.

Jon listened to her footsteps fading until he couldn't hear them at all. He then left as well, sulking back to his quarters.

On her way to the Stark's dining hall for her morning meal, Rose stopped by the handmaidens' chambers to find Alessa. When she did, she was surprised to find her awake, dressed, and already having broker her fast.

"My lady, you slept much later than usual. I admit, I was concerned but you told me not to come see you; that you would find me." Alessa told her.

Rose sighed. "Thank you for that. I just... I never sleep late. It is embarrassing, to say the least.

Her handmaiden gave her a small giggle. "It happens to everybody, do not worry."

"Oh, that's easy for you to say. You are always awake before me. Sometimes I don't even think you sleep!"

Alessa laughed again. "You flatter me, my lady."

"You deserve the flattery." Rose said, with a smile. "That, and I appreciate your kindness towards my inability to get out of bed."

The handmaiden gave her a respectful nod. "Thank you. Also, I believe Lord Tyrion is in the dining hall finishing his morning meal. He must have slept late as well. I heard he fell asleep with the dogs."

"Why am I not surprised?" Rose smirked.

"Well, you always said he attracted dirty bitches."

At that comment, Rose couldn't help but laugh.

When they arrived at the dining hall, Rose allowed her handmaiden to leave. "You don't have to sit here and watch us eat. I would hate to bore you so."

Alessa gave her a courteous nod.

"Oh," Rose added, "If you could do something with my wine stained clothing from last night, that would be wonderful."

"Of course, my lady." the young brunette replied with a curtsey before taking her leave.

As Rose entered the hall, she gave one of the northern servants her meal order and took a seat across from her brother. He wasn't the only one. Some men from the Stark's guard were sitting at another table, laughing and enjoying the end of their meal. Tyrion, however, was alone. When he saw her, he smiled.

"I heard you woke up in the kennels this morning." she said to him, grinning.

He chuckled before taking another bite of his bread.

"How did you end up there?" Rose asked.

Tyrion shrugged. "Oh, the usual way. Too much drink and a series of bad decisions."

She gave him a small laugh as one of the servants brought her the meal she asked for. Her half-brother looked up at her as she began to eat.

"So, where did you scurry off to last night?" he asked.

Rose paused. "I went to bed early. The uh... the travel and the change in climate had fatigued me."

The dwarf huffed at her. "Really?"

She looked up at him, nervously, and shifted awkwardly in her seat before leaning back over her food.

Tyrion narrowed his eyes at her. "I can tell when you're lying."

"I am not lying."

"Something's different about you." He leaned down to try and look into her eyes. "Don't fight it, you know I'm good at this."

She looked up, dropping her silverware, and crossed her arms. "What? What do you think you're looking for? Can you not let me eat in peace, brother?

He was surprised by her snappish response, his raised brows and wide eyes showing as much. "I didn't realize I was bothering you so much."

"Well you are." she said, relaxing her arms but still narrowing her eyes in anger. "Sometimes you don't need to stick your nose into everybody else's business, you know."

"Are you alright?" he asked, with genuine concern. Tyrion was completely shocked by the way she was acting. He had never seen Rose this defensive or irritable for as long as he could remember.

With her expression softening, Rose let out a sigh. "I am. It's just..." She picked up her fork again and began pushing the food on her plate around absentmindedly. "I don't know what I am going to do with myself while we are here."

Tyrion's eye brows furrowed in disbelief, but he was not going to question her further. He feared it would only antagonize her more. "I feel the same, however, you know Robert. He wants to reminisce and, well, just all of that nonsense."

She winced, quietly. "But a whole two weeks? That is an absurdly long time. Can't he and Lord Eddard do all of this reminiscing in the capital?"

"He wants to take his sweet time hunting and drinking and fucking as well as get his fill of all the north has to offer."

"And what's that, exactly? Summer snow and mud?" she said, shaking her head.

"I think Robert is mainly interested in seeing as few southerners as possible." he responded. "The poor man. Falling in love with a Stark proved to only end in heartbreak."

Rose felt her body go rigid at his last statement. She simply nodded in response and continued to eat her morning meal in silence. Tyrion noticed, but he refused to harass her further.

Without anything to do for the rest of the day, Rose had decided to continue reading one of the books her brother recommended to her. This one was a historical story about the Hedge Knight.

Growing up, her half-brother Tyrion had taken a special interest in her. He would always talk with her, make sure she was happy, and help her wherever he could. Later in life she realized he was also teased and tormented by their family for being different, or in her case, a bastard and that was why he was so protective of her. She always appreciated it and still looks to him as her only true family and an honest friend.

'Keep your wits about you, sister.' she remembered him telling her, 'People like us, people who are different, have to work twice as hard for half the respect.'

Rose entered her room, smiling softly as she reminisced. She saw Alessa making her bed.

"I'm going to go for a walk and find a place to read. Would you like..." she trailed off, her smile disappearing when she noticed her handmaiden's expression, "Alessa? What is-"

Then she saw it.

"My lady..." Alessa said, looking up at Rose. She looked worried.

When Rose realized what she was looking at, her heart began to pound in her chest.

"Lady Rose, I thought you had finished bleeding last week?" Alessa asked, innocently.

"I... I did. That's not... I... shit." Rose said, fumbling with her words.

The two women stood in silence for a few moments.

Then, Alessa finally came to fully understand what her mistress had done. "Uhm, was there someone in here with you last night, my lady?" the young, brunette girl asked.

Rose crossed her arms shyly and averted her eyes from Alessa. Her voice shook when she spoke as if she were afraid."You absolutely cannot tell anybody."

The handmaiden looked back down at the mark on the bed and then back to Rose. Her cheeks had a red tint on them and her face held a meek expression. "Oh, of course. I won't. I promise, my lady, I swear. But, may I ask-"

"No."

Somebody knows.

It was all Rose could hear as she walked through the courtyard at Winterfell. While it was only Alessa, a sweet girl who would never defy her mistress, she was still worried. If her handmaiden had already found out in less than a day, how long would it take for somebody else to discover her secret? How long would it take for them to discover who she shares this secret with?

Was it worth the risk?

Then, as if the Gods themselves could hear her thoughts and wanted to punish her, she saw him.

Jon was leaving the armory with his half-brother, Robb, after a day of training. The two men were talking to each other when Jon noticed Rose looking at him. He caught her gaze and almost immediately after, Robb did too.

"Lady Rose, a pleasure." Robb said with a handsome smile.

She managed to return the smile, halfway curtseying with her book in hand. "And you, my lord." Then, she looked at Jon with a nod.

Jon gave her a small bow. "My lady."

"Where are you going, if I may ask?" Robb inquired.

"I was looking for your Godswood." she said to him.

The Stark bastard remained respectfully silent as his half-brother spoke with Rose.

"The Godswood?" Robb asked, seeming surprised. "I thought your family kept the Faith of the Seven?"

"Yes, we do," she began, glancing at Jon who was staring at his feet, "but I like to read outdoors. In King's Landing I often sit in the gardens. Here..." she looked around her as she spoke, "well, the Godswood is likely the closest thing you have."

Robb stared at her for a short moment, unsure if she was trying to insult them or not. He ultimately decided to ignore the thought. "Well, I would be glad to show you but my lord father has requested my presence at once and-"

"I can show you." Jon said, cutting off Robb.

Both Rose and Robb turned their attention to him.

"Oh... I don't know if..." Rose began to refuse him but she was interrupted by Jon before she could.

"Really, It's no trouble. I'd be happy to." he said, his eyes silently attempting to coerce her.

Rose looked at Robb and then back at Jon before releasing a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "Alright. Show me."

At that, Robb said his farewells and left the two alone. Jon motioned for Rose to follow him and she did. They walked in silence until they reached the weirwood tree.

Jon seated himself on a large, grey stone as Rose walked around the small area and took in all of the new sights. He watched the blonde girl as she slowly strode around the weirwood, brushing her hand against the face carved into it.

"I've never seen a true, northern godswood." she said, staring at the red sap coming out of the eyes in the tree. "It's... interesting."

"Do they have anything like it down south?" he asked her.

She shrugged in response. "If they do, I haven't seen any. I think there may be a small one at the Red Keep."

Jon nodded. "I've heard stories saying they cut all of the old godswood down in the south."

"Yes, I recall reading similar stories. Maybe I heard them from somebody. I'm not sure." she told him as she reached up, pulling a leaf off of one of the branches. She stared at it, admiring the blood red color.

They were once again silent.

Rose took a few more moments to scan the giant, white tree before taking a seat next to Jon on the rock. She opened her book, turning to the last page she had left off on. After reading a few lines, she noticed Jon was still next to her. Slowly, she turned to look at him.

"Are you staying here?" she asked, her voice quiet.

He turned his gaze to her and paused before standing up. "I'll go if you want me to."

"No, you can stay. I think..." Rose said as she looked down into her book, shyly, "I think I would like it if you stayed."

Jon crossed his arms and stared at her for a moment. He felt anger rising in him but he did his best not to show it. She was acting so different. First, she wanted to bed him. The next morning she couldn't get him out of her room fast enough. Now, she wanted his company again?

"Why are you doing this?" he asked.

Rose raised one of her eye brows. "Doing what, exactly?"

"This!" he said, turning his hands up in confusion. "You want me to stay, then go, now stay again. I don't know what you want."

Her eyes narrowed. "I want to have fun. I told you that."

"All you want is someone to fuck at night."

"You don't think the sneaking around and forbidden part of our relationship is fun?" she said with a roguish grin. In truth, she understood his frustration and felt the same way herself. However, she would never give him the satisfaction of telling him that. For some reason, Rose found she enjoyed toying with Jon like this. Perhaps she and her half-sister did have something in common.

He sighed, shaking his head. "I thought I would but... I don't know. It's hard. You said nobody could know, and I know that, I know why." he said, looking at her with the eyes of someone who seemed tired or helpless. "I don't want to see any of this come back to hurt you or I."

His words and expression made Rose feel sorry she ever dragged him into this. "Jon, I..." she sighed, having difficulty finding the right words. "I didn't realize this would take such a toll on you. If you want out of the arrangement, just say so and it is done."

"That's just it," he said, "I don't want to stop this. I want to keep doing it, but I hate feeling so afraid of what could happen to us." He looked at her with wide, sincere eyes.

Rose felt her heart beating faster. With his last sentence, Jon revealed he felt the same way she did. It was a relief, but it also scared her.

She took a deep breath before replying. "Just keep your feelings out of it. That's what I'm doing." she said, looking up to him. "It's a casual fuck, nothing more." she said, trying to convince herself as well.

Jon felt his heart sink He shouldn't have, but he did. She was right, and he would keep telling himself that until it seemed true. To respond to her statement, all he could do was nod.

Rose stared at his face, studying the sad expression that had taken over. Her heart broke.

"So, are you going to stay or go?" she asked, her voice soft. She motioned to the spot on the stone next to her where he had been sitting before.

Jon sighed and took the seat next to her. She read her novel while he kept to himself. They both remained silent.

AN: I didn't want to put another note at the end but here we are.
I can't remember if they ever explicitly stated how long the king stayed in Winterfell, but for the sake of this story I went with two weeks. That's all I wanted to address, should there be any confusion :)