A week passed and Jon had seen Sansa nearly every day when he stopped by the coffee shop for his daily coffee. Which he knew was ridiculous since he had a perfectly good Keurig at his house. But he couldn't resist seeing her as often as he could.

No matter how many times Jon told himself to not fall head over heels for Sansa yet again, his heart rebelled.

And now, on this crisp morning, he was driving toward the Stark house to pick her up for a hike she had suggested to him the previous day. Granted, they wouldn't be alone, Sansa had said Arya would be joining them. And Ghost, of course. Jon's husky was currently sticking his head out the window, sniffing at the autumn air as they drove along.

Sansa was waiting patiently on the porch, surrounded by the eight family-carved pumpkins, when he pulled up.

"Good morning!" Sansa said brightly, her big smile making Jon's stomach flip as she climbed into the passenger seat. "Arya can't come. She forgot she has a study group thing today." Sansa twisted in her seat to give Ghost some loving head scratches. "And good morning to you, good boy!" she cooed at him.

Excitement ran through Jon at the thought of having some alone time with Sansa that didn't involve her being behind the counter at his favorite coffee shop. Nervousness crept in, as well, at the thought of this being the first time the two of them were completely alone since they were together years ago. Jon gave himself little mental pep talks in between their conversation as he drove them to the mountain trail Sansa had suggested.

He thought of times they were alone in the past and how great they were. Jon could still vividly remember Sansa dancing around an empty street in her heels, drunk after they left a party, her hand reaching for his so he could twirl her under the street light. In the morning, she swore his kisses made her feel better from the inevitable hangovers. The steamed-up windows of his car on the nights he'd drop her off at her house, getting their last kisses in before she ran inside. She'd often steal his sweatshirt on the cooler late nights when they would hang out; the feel of her skin underneath it, silky and smooth when he slid his hand under, was burned into his brain as well.

Once parked at their destination and out of the car, Sansa took in a dramatic, deep breath of the cool air. "This is my heaven."

Jon looked over at her. Her eyes closed and her face tilted up to the sun that was trying to peek out from behind the foggy layer. Her hair seemed to match many of the leaves that had already changed color. She was his heaven and he couldn't deny it.

"Ready?" Jon asked when she opened her eyes.

"Yes," Sansa smiled. Maybe it was a trick his mind played on him, but he could have sworn Sansa's eyes traveled down and back up his body before she turned and headed up the trail, Ghost at her side. Jon certainly didn't mind the view of the rear of black legging-clad Sansa. Reminding himself to not be a creep, he briskly caught up to them.

As they wound their way higher and higher on the path, they talked about Jon's work, house hunting, and Sansa's job search. Jon wanted so badly to ask if she was seeing anyone but had no idea how to bring it up. Once they stopped to give Ghost some water, it seemed that Sansa was maybe wondering the same thing about Jon.

"So. I had heard you were dating Daenerys Targaryen not too long ago," Sansa said. To Jon, it seemed like a questioning statement.

"Oh, that definitely ended earlier this year," Jon stated, trying to be clear that he had no attachments to his ex-girlfriend.

"I did find that news surprising when Arya told me. She was cool and all, she just seemed a bit - controlling, I guess."

"I'm a little ashamed of how long it took me to figure that out, but yes, she definitely was," Jon laughed in response.

"No new girlfriends after that?" Sansa asked, a slight blush forming on her cheeks as she looked anywhere but at Jon.

"Nope. How about yourself? Break any hearts when you decided to move back here?"

"Naw. The last one was this one asshole. Joffrey. But I cut that off a while ago and couldn't be happier for it."

Jon couldn't help but smile to himself at the news.

They continued up the trail, taking in the autumn colors of the leaves and the cool, foggy air. They began walking closer to one another, their arms sometimes brushing against each other. Ghost would find broken branches along the ground, trotting up to them so they would throw it and he could bound after it. Jon couldn't help but think how perfect this day was. Out in nature, cool weather, Sansa by his side, Ghost running all around them. Well, it would be perfect if Sansa was his and he was hers.

By the time they reached the top of the trail, the fog had begun to lift, the sight from the trail's summit overlook coming into view.

"You wanna rest here for a minute?" Jon asked.

"That sounds good," Sansa answered, plopping herself down on the ground. Jon followed suit next to her while Ghost sniffed at their surroundings.

"I'm glad you suggested hiking. I've been so consumed with work that I didn't realize how much I needed this," Jon said after a few minutes of comfortable silence.

"I have a confession," Sansa said guiltily. "I kinda lied. Arya never planned on coming with us."

"Why'd you said she was coming then?" Jon laughed.

"I was worried you wouldn't wanna come if it was just me," Sansa replied with a little shrug of her shoulder.

"Of course I would. Why would you think that?"

"I dunno. I just thought maybe you're fine with being around me in group settings but maybe you wouldn't want to hang out with just me."

"Sansa, I am perfectly happy hanging out with just you," Jon reassured her. "Actually, I might even prefer it sometimes." He had to look away then, sure the heat he felt on his cheeks was showing as a blush.

Sansa's hand reached for his and gave a squeeze. Jon looked back at her, shocked but elated at the sensation. Her smile was warm and appreciative. He reciprocated her smile and they both turned their attention to the view that was becoming more clear before them.

Jon had always hoped Sansa had missed him after she left. He knew the right thing to do was to hope she was happy, and he truly did. But there was that small, selfish part of him that wished she missed him, wished she maybe would begin to regret losing him, dreamt she'd come back to him when she was ready.

Jon still didn't dare to let himself believe that maybe he wasn't too far off all along.

Their hands remained grasped together, Jon's thumb rubbing light circles on hers.