I'm not sure where this came from but darn it I have always wanted to do a Modern AU and I am slightly obsessed with Elia Martell (And her living.) So It is what it is.
Huge thank you to Nanso for Beta reading and saving this story!
As of now I am thinking it will be three parts but that may change.
Anywho Please enjoy, thanks for reading and I would love to know what you think!
...
After a whole day of being the youngest Sherriff Wintertown ever had and one of the most effective, getting his truck fixed was not what Eddard wanted. He was assured it would only be an hour at most but that hardly matters when you are waiting with children.
Eddard opened the door to the repair shop waiting room. His brother Benjen was the first through. Every time Ned saw his brother's long messy hair, it reminded him that he needs to get it cut. Just another thing to add to his never-ending list of childcare provider responsibilities. Luckily at 11, Benjen could care less about his hair. He was tall too, tall enough that his worn blue jeans did not make it to his dirty mismatched sneakers. He seemed to grow daily as his jacket did not fit, so he was wearing a red white and blue bubble jacket. Eddard had told him [IT?] was his even though he knew it belonged to Brandon. Benjen clutched his stomach. "I'm starving!" he whined to his older brother.
Eddard sighed, he still had his badge and uniform on. He thought Lyanna had debate today only to find out she quit debate, and he was late picking her up. His truck hadn't had heat in if for three weeks now and Benjen traded his lunch for Pokémon cards and was starving. He wasn't sure how his dad was a great single dad when he could not even manage being their caretaker.
"Buddy I told you we will eat once the truck is fixed," he promised as Lyanna walked in slowly as she could not bother to look up from her phone. At 15 she was very pretty with long brown hair and bluish grey eyes. She wore a grey sweater with overalls and brown boots. She was a strong-willed tomboy who could not seem to make up her mind between helping Eddard and making everything a hundred times harder.
"If you let me drive Brandon's car we wouldn't have to wait here. I could have followed you and we could already be eating at Nan's waiting on your truck," she told him persistently. She wanted to drive Brandon's car more than anything in this world.
"I am not letting a 15-year-old drive a Porsche because I am not letting a 15-year-old drive a Porsche," he told her as he followed her in. She sighed and said something about how he was ruining her life. Eddard was not really listening as his grey eyes were drawn to beautiful stranger sitting in the waiting room.
She had thick black curls and warm brown skin, she was slender and wore an orange trench coat even though she was inside with a loose white shirt, skinny jeans and brown boots. She cuddled her baby close to her as his silver hair brushed against her cheek. She hummed softly as she rocked him to sleep, and her other hand held open a book. Her black eyes flickered to him momentarily giving him a gentle smile before turning back to where her daughter was coloring my little ponies coloring book on the floor near the old TV playing Wheel of Fortune.
"How long do you think it takes to die of thirst?" Benjen asked as he slumped down in a chair. Eddard turned back to his brother. Ben sat closer to the woman and her kids then he would have liked. They were the only other people in the small waiting room. Lyanna sat next to her little brother and Eddard joined them.
"I thought you were hungry?" He said he looked over to the counter where a half empty coffee pot sat, but there were no waters or pops.
"I can be both!" Benjen huffed making his sister laugh.
Elia took pity on the disheveled child and put her book down reaching into her bag and pulling out a water before holding it out to him. "It's never been opened," she promised.
Benjen grabbed the plastic bottle. "Thanks lady!" He said, making Elia laugh gracefully.
"I have snacks too." She offered.
"What kind!" Benjen asked happily.
"You are not taking her food, be happy she was nice enough to give you water." Eddard told him before looking to Elia. "It was very kind of you."
"It's no problem." She promised. "I have Granola, Cheerios, and dried Orange slices?" Elia said as she dug in her bag with her free hand.
"Yuck are you one of those healthy moms!" Benjen asked.
"BENJEN!" Eddard snapped as Elia laughed.
"No it's quite alright, I try to be one of those healthy moms, but I am a sucker for pizza." Elia told him making him notice her thick accent.
"Are you really Dornish? I've never met anyone Dornish before!" He exclaimed going closer to her.
"Benjen, don't be racist!" Lyanna told him.
"It's not racist to notice someone's race, Lyanna!" Benjen said back sticking his tongue out at his sister.
"Both of you stop!" Eddard said looking to the little girl quietly coloring. "Do you not see how good her little children are being? Imitate that," Eddard said, not sure he had ever been so embarrassed of his brother and sister.
"It's fine, I am Dornish," She told him.
"So why are you here?" Benjen asked. She was by far the prettiest woman he ever saw, and he was very curious.
"BENJEN, you are the worst. Just because she is Dornish doesn't mean she cannot come to the north!" Lyanna said hitting her brothers head who glared at her.
"I meant in Wintertown!" Benjen grumbled.
"We are on vacation," Elia told them.
"You wouldn't be staying at the cabin at the edge of Wolfswoods would you?" Eddard asked.
"Yes, we are renting it, yes." Elia said. It was her first time really looking at Eddard. Taking him in, he was handsome with his brown hair and grey eyes, handsome in an outdoorsy way [that] Rhaegar never was.
"Vayon Poole said he rented it," Eddard mused. She was not what he had in mind when Vayon said he found people crazy enough to rent the cabin in winter who brought an insane amount of furniture with them.
"You will have to tell him how much we are enjoying it. He was right - whoever renovated it did a wonderful job," Elia mused.
"Thank you," Eddard said before he could think about it. Working with his hands helped when he was upset and after he lost his father and Brandon, he went to the cabin almost daily.
"Sheriff and a carpenter? So, do you work for the Starks or do you take any carpentry jobs?" Elia asked, wondering if she could talk him into looking at her remolding project.
Lyanna and Benjen laughed while Eddard tried to think of something to say.
"We are the Starks! Vayon just runs most of the estates," Lyanna told her.
"My apologies," Elia told him giving him a mortified look. when Vayon talked about the Starks and all their properties and that they were basically the kings around here, she had not imagined the young handsome sheriff struggling with his brother and sister.
"I consider it a compliment that you think it was done by a professional," Eddard promised. "We live a couple miles up the road if anything goes wrong. Feel free to come and blame the amateur carpenter," Eddard said making her smile.
Lyanna smiled looking back and forth from her brother - who she never saw so flustered - and the beautiful, kind stranger.
"If you don't mind, I have a few questions about your lovely town. I googled it but I am afraid there wasn't much on it," Elia admitted.
"It's not a bother at all, I don't know a lot, but I know this town," he promised.
"Where is the best place to eat traditional northern food?" Elia asked making him smile.
"You'll want to go to Nan's place on the square, Nan cooks the best stew," he told her. He looked at Benjen. He was about his age when his mother died and their father would take all four of them to Nan's so they could have soup like there mom used to make.
"I will have to try that," Elia said, patting her baby as he fussed a little.
"How old is your baby?" Lyanna asked curiously looking over Benjen at Aegon curled up in his mother's arms.
"He is 42 weeks," Elia told her before kissing Aegon's head. He was her little miracle all the fertility treatments and tests and shots were worth it to have her son.
"Why do you count the weeks?" Lyanna asked making Elia smile.
"Because moms are weird, he is 10 months," she told the children
"Oh ok…what does he do?" Benjen asked curiously peaking at the baby. He and Lyanna were now standing next to Elia looking at her baby while Eddard tried not to hit his head at his brother and sister's lack of boundaries.
"He does a lot - he talks, and he's started to walk. It's just naptime now," Elia explained.
"Will you leave this nice lady alone?" He asked his siblings who paid him no mind. "I am so sorry," he told her.
"It's fine. He is able to sit up on his own now, he can reach for things with one hand, he understands me better he knows words like his name or no," Elia told her.
"What is his name?" Benjen asked.
"Aegon," Elia said.
Benjen huffed blowing his hair out of his face. "Weird."
"It's a family name," Elia told him.
"So…your name is Aegon?" Benjen asked with a big smile and laughter in his blue eyes and even Eddard had to smile at that.
"On his father's side my son is the sixth Aegon in his family," Elia said softly. Eddard wasn't sure why his heart sank suddenly. He should have assumed she was married. "My name is Elia Nymeros Martell Targaryen," she told him. Eddard's breath hitched when she rolled her R's.
"I am Lyanna, this is my stupid brother Benjen. That's my stupid brother Ned," Lyanna said making Elia laugh.
"I am Rhaenys," the little girl said from where she colored happily.
"And I could babysit for you sometime if you and your husband wanted to go out on a date." Lyanna said, fishing for if Elia was still with her husband. She swore there was something sad in the lady's eyes when she talked about her children's father.
"That would be wonderful!" Elia said [as] she looked to Eddard for confirmation.
"She's actually really good at it. Studying is iffy, but babysitting she is good at," he told her. Well, when it was other people's children - not Benjen who she once locked in a closet for annoying her.
"Could I get you number?" Elia asked and Lyanna happily put it in her phone. Eddard was pleased. With Lyanna quitting every club, babysitting might be the only thing to get her out of the house. And when Lyanna was around the house all night, she had nothing to do but torture them. She would not even go riding since the accident.
"Ma'am, your car is ready, be sure to tell your husband sportscars are not meant to go off roading in the snow," Mikken told her.
Elia sighed as she put her baby back in his car seat. "If he listened to me it would have not happened the first time," she said as she secured Aegon before turning to him and taking the keys. "Thank you, come on Rhaenys," Elia told her daughter as she gathered her things.
Rhaenys looked like her mother in every way besides her purple eyes. She wore a Secret Life of Pets shirt and glittery pink pants and fussy Ugg boots. "This is for you because you are pretty!" Rhaenys told Lyanna making her mother laugh as she began to put Rhaenys's coat on her.
"It was such a blessing meeting you Lyanna, it was great meeting all of you." She said [as] she covered Aegon up before taking Rhaenys's hand. Eddard opened the door for her and she thanked him.
Mikken went back to his garage and Lyanna slumped into a chair. "Great, she isn't single and now I have to babysit," she grumbled.
Eddard was about to ask her why she was trying to set him up but Benjen did not give him a chance.
"Oh please, you were all over that baby! You probably want a little white-haired baby of your own!" Benjen jeered, making his sister scowl at him.
She pushed him, [and] Benjen just laid on the ground while Eddard sighed. "Are you okay pal?" He asked finally.
"I am starving!" Benjen whined again, making Eddard hit his head.
….
Eddard walked Lyanna to the door when she was supposed to babysit. He was going to walk away before he had to do any socializing, but Lyanna barely knocked when Elia opened the door. She wore a long yellow dress with a plunging neckline and a thigh high silt. Her thick curls were down around her shoulders. Her smile was radiant especially because of the bright red lipstick she wore. Eddard was not sure what he expected but not for his breathing to falter when he saw her. Elia was nothing but drop dead gorgeous when she opened the door. He had to remind himself that she was married, but Eddard's heart would not listen to him. As it beat wildly, he thought to escape but she began talking and he couldn't move.
"Lyanna, thank you for coming! Eddard, I am so glad to see you, we broke something, but I promise will we pay for it! If you can tell me how much it will be, I can write you a check," Elia said.
"Err what is it?" Eddard asked still starstruck.
"Please come in out of the cold," Elia said opening the door. Lyanna and Eddard looked around in awe. The cabin looked different with their minimalist furniture and abstract art on the walls. He felt like he was somewhere new instead of the cabin he has been to since he was a boy.
"I will show you just one moment," Elia promised.
Lyanna took off her shoes and coat as Elia disappeared into the large cabin. Lyanna nudged her brother to do the same but instead he wiped his shoes keeping his Carhartt on, not intending to stay long.
Elia came back with Aegon on her hip. Awake he showed off his bright purple eyes as he pulled at his mother's hair. She handed him to Lyanna.
"He has already eaten, if he does get hungry there is a bottle in the fridge but if he drinks it, he needs a little water after to clean off his teeth. He will fall asleep if you hold him but not in his crib, so you have to put him in his crib once he is asleep. Rhaenys is in the living room - she must be in bed at 7:30 do not let her convince you to read more then one story, she just had spaghetti and if you're hungry there is some fajitas in the fridge. Help yourself to anything you find but there is not much, once the kids are asleep there are all kinds of movies but we have terrible taste so their either artsy movies or comedies," Elia told Lyanna.
"Hi Aegon Hi! You are just the cutest! Yes! Yes you are the cutest!" Lyanna told him baby talking. She gave her brother a glare telling him to never speak of this.
"I know you already have my number but it's on the fridge and so is Rhaegar's numbers work and personal. He will have both on him but call me first because I will answer," Elia said. "And don't hesitate to call, we can come home at a moment's notice." She promised.
"Cool," Lyanna said as she bounces Aegon and made faces at him.
"Great. Rhaenys is in the living room watching barbie."
"I used to love barbie!" Lyanna said.
"Then the next hour in a half should be painless," Elia said. Lyanna went to the living room missing the joke, but Ned chuckled.
"Follow me," Elia told Eddard saying apologies as she lead him through the dining room and kitchen to the back room. It had once been a screened in porch but it never got much use so Eddard took out the screens and replaced them with a window and added a love seat. Unlike the rest of the cabin it was lively, decorated with bright colors. There was an orange velvet chaise lounge with hot pink pillows, the desk was bright yellow with a lilac chair fit for a queen, and the cushion on the window seat were a bright blue. And his greatest surprise more then the hole in the wall was the chair that looked like a bird cage that hung from the wall. The cushions on it were brown. This was more how he saw her then the rest of the house which seemed so cool and mysteries.
She went to the wall picking up the picture of colorful birds that sat on the floor. "I am so sorry, I was just trying to hang this and -" she started.
Eddard couldn't help but smile. "That's the exact spot my brother Brandon punched one time, the amateur carpenter just put sheet rock over it, don't worry about it," Eddard said. He still remembered how mad Brandon was when Barbery Dustin broke up with him, Eddard thought. Going to the cabin was a good idea, thinking Brandon might enjoy the hard work but he did not.
"I insist on paying. I did not get to meet Brandon the other day - is he older or younger?" Elia asked.
"Older, he was older than me. He died 7 months ago, he and my dad both actually," Eddard admitted. He was not a sharer by any means. The words just came out as he stared at her sympathetic big black eyes.
"I am so sorry," Elia told him grabbing his hand, giving it a light squeeze. "I am sure they would be so proud of what a wonderful job you are doing taking care of the children?"
"Whose children?" Eddard asked making her laugh. She smelled like lemons and nothing was as beautiful as the graceful way she touched her chest and threw her head back when she laughed.
"You cannot mean the boy who wore mix matched shoes for a whole day and needs a haircut and the girl who is 15 going on 22," Eddard asked making her laugh again. She let go of his hand to his disappointment.
"You are far too funny, but if you would like help, I can cut Benjen's hair. I use to cut my husband's before he grew it out," Elia offered.
"Would you really? I hate to take you up on it, but he is terrified of the barber in town and I'm not sure why," he told her.
"Not it's my pleasure," Elia promised.
"Mommy mommy mommy!" Rhaenys said, running in and Lyanna came in after with Aegon in her arms.
"What what what," Elia said with a big smile. She adored her children, they were her great joy in life.
"Can me and Lyanna make popcorn?" Rhaenys asked.
"I know you said you were kind of a health nut so I thought I would ask," Lyanna said making Eddard rub his head.
"Little tip - don't call your employer a nut." Eddard groaned.
"Not it was very thoughtful but yes popcorn is fine," Elia promised.
"Whoa," Lyanna said looking around. "It is bright in here."
"Yes, I'm afraid this is my favorite place in the house so it looks much more like me. Believe me, Rhaegar wishes I would tone it down as well."
"Darling, clowns tone things down better than you," A melodic voice said from the kitchen. Soon a man as tall as Eddard with white and silver long hair and bright purple eyes appeared. He wore a black sports coat over a red shirt with jeans and black shoes.
"This is my lovely husband Rhaegar Targaryen," Elia said going over and kissing his cheek.
"How do I look?" Elia asked her husband who gave her a playful smile.
"Like you are overdressed." He said making her glorious smile disappear. "Don't pout, I am too." He mused. "Tell her we are going to stick out in this little town like sour thumbs." Rhaegar said looking to Eddard acknowledging him and leaning in to shake his hand like a politician where Eddard Stark shook hands like an honest man.
"It's nice," Eddard said. "Spending time with your wife away from the kids."
"That's what I thought!" Elia said excitedly. "We have not gone on a date since before Rhaenys was born," Elia said.
"You must be our hero." Rhaegar mused to Lyanna. "My apologies in advance, she spoils the children."
"I do not!" Elia said.
"Popcorn?" Rhaenys asked softly.
"It's in the cabinet by the microwave," Elia told Lyanna as she took back Aegon to say goodbye to her baby who nodded going that way.
"Darling, if we must do this you should do something with your hair. What's say we have a drink?" Rhaegar asked Eddard.
"I should get going."
"You can't I'm blocking you in." Rhaegar mused.
"I don't drink and drive," Eddard said coolly. "And neither should you."
"I promise to drive sheriff," Elia mused before going into the kitchen and then up the stairs.
"I don't drink and drive," Eddard said.
"Well then watch me drink." Rhaegar joked. Lyanna giggled as she put the popcorn in the microwave.
"I never got your name young lady?" Rhaegar said with a kind smile as he opened the liquor cabinet getting out Vodka and two shot glasses.
"Um Lyanna?" She said moving her hair out of her face.
"Well Lyanna, I need a huge favor. Did she tell you about the fajitas in the fridge?" Rhaegar asked. He gave Eddard a smile as if they shared common ground on this.
"Yes, that was really sweet!" Lyanna exclaimed.
"Well," Rhaegar moved closer to Lyanna and Eddard to whisper. He checked the stairs before saying. "I would not wish that on my enemies, but I need you to save what is left of my stomach by throwing it out while we are gone and then telling her you ate it," Rhaegar said. He smiled at Eddard as though they shared common ground. "Elia is a horrible cook she thinks the goal is to make things unbearably hot to eat," he teased.
"Will do." Lyanna promised quietly. She played with her hair, trying to hide the growing blush on her face.
"Then you have my thanks," he said before turning back to Eddard placing the shot glasses on the counter as the microwave beeped. He filled the glasses as the girls went back to the living room.
"So, what brings you north?" Eddard asked not one for small talk.
"I am an artist and I thought the cold would inspire me, it's true agony that brings about true art," Rhaegar said simply. "I've done all the art in the house aside from Elia's horrible bird picture. I am so sorry about the wall how much do I owe you?" Rhaegar asked he took one shot and then the other.
"Elia and I worked something out, she is going to cut my brothers hair and that's a hellish task in it's own," Eddard said.
"I insist on paying. What we lack in functionality Elia and I always make up for in writing checks," Rhaegar said as he poured another shot.
Eddard felt uncomfortable by Rhaegar's words, sure that Elia did not want him confessing marital problems to a complete stranger. "You sure have a beautiful family; your daughter is so sweet and smart." Ned said trying to change the subject, but his arms were crossed and his stance wide as if he was still on the job doing what he must.
"Thank you," Rhaegar said drinking another shot. "We will have been married for five years in June. The family business was going under after generations, my father is more than useless when it comes to finance. My mother had been willing the business along for years, mother found a donorr stupid enough to give her his money. You see, Elia has an older brother who raised her, and he confided in my mother that he wanted to see Elia settled, she was one of those feminists business woman types. My mother said I would have to go on a few dates with her but meeting Elia she is so kind and witty…." Rhaegar trailed off as he took another shot.
"And you fell in love," Eddard surmised. It was a sweet story for a couple that did look beautiful next to one another, but he could not figure out why Rhaegar seemed so unhappy.
"More like…. besotted. It would not have lasted 6 months if Elia hadn't gotten pregnant with Rhae, so we got married and now I am freezing my ass off to fix a marriage I never really wanted," Rhaegar said.
Eddard was about to tell Rhaegar what he thought as he was honest to a fault, but his head turned when he heard Aegon giggling, Elia appeared down the stairs with him her hair up in a slick bun.
"Say goodbye to dada," Elia mused. Rhaegar kissed his son's head putting the vodka away.
"Are you boys bonding?" Elia mused cuddling Aegon close.
"You are stalling Elia." Rhaegar told her.
"Leaving the kids is hard." Elia admitted.
"This was your idea." Rhaegar reminded with a sigh.
"Please don't" Elia said softly before smiling at Eddard. "Thank you for being patient, I will just go give Lyanna the baby and say goodbye to Rhaenys." Elia said. Eddard nodded and they were quickly out of the house after that, but Eddard was starting to think he did not want Lyanna around them anymore. He had first liked Elia, and Rhaegar had his own haunting charm through his whole tortured artist thing, but something about them together spelled chaos. Elia had driven her home two hours later after Rhaegar paid her 80 bucks which she was thrilled about and could not wait to babysit for them again, but Eddard did not share her delight.
….
The next time their paths would cross was a week later at the grocery store. Eddard had planned on going and getting groceries on his lunch break. He had not planned on having Benjen with him for getting suspended from school.
"What were you thinking about getting in a fight? Principal Luwin said you jumped on that boy like an animal?" Eddard said as his brother stared at his muddy ripped jeans without a reply.
Eddard sighed throwing the cereal into their cart.
"That isn't the one Lyanna likes," Benjen grumbled, kicking at his shoes.
In that moment, Eddard wanted his dad to be here more than anything. He was Benjen's age when his mother died and Brandon was younger than Lyanna. His father was the perfect parent and Eddard barely passed as a guardian. He wanted to scream at an 11 year old in a grocery store, instead he would settle for getting out as soon as possible.
"Just go get some chicken noodle soup!" Eddard growled. He closed his eyes trying to calm down trying to just survive a job he was never meant to have. His father was so patient with him, he always knew just what to do or say, he was a true leader. A skill Brandon had inherited but Eddard had not, Eddard knew how to follow.
He tensed when he heard a loud shake of cans falling. He groaned, quickly going around the corner to see all the soup cans knocked over as he suspected, but unexpectedly Benjen was sobbing in the arms of Elia. Her cart was next to her with her children in it.
"Shhh, shhh it's alright, it is just a little mess," Elia said in that beautiful voice of hers. She could not walk past such a miserable child and when she asked if he was okay, he fell into her arms in tears.
"No, Eddard's going to kill me, I already got in trouble at school for starting a fight!" He whined. She bent down to look at him pulling back a loose strand of hair.
"You started the fight?" Elia asked and Eddard saw the way Benjen hesitated before he nodded. He hadn't noticed that before, Elia smiled wisely.
"I see, and what did the boy say to you before you fought him?" Elia asked, making Eddard realize he never asked what started the fight he felt like an idiot.
"He called me little Orphan Benny!" Benjen muttered angrily. More tears spilled from his eyes, she wiped them away.
"Well, I might have hit him too," Elia admitted and Benjen laughed. "Did you know I was raised by my brother?"
"Really?" Benjen asked.
"Uncle Doran!" Rhaenys cheered, making her mother smile and stroke her head.
"Really. My mother died when I was a little older than you," Elia admitted. "My brother Doran was already a man, he is kind of like your brother, wise and good." Elia said making Benjen frown.
"If Ned is so good, why does he not care about me," Benjen pouted.
"Of course he does," Elia told him.
Benjen shook his head. "No, Ned got really mad," Benjen said.
"You know Benjen, being a guardian is really hard. See the thing I learned when I became a wife and a mother is empathy for Doran, because you can do the perfect thing a thousand times and nobody notices, but you mess up once and the world is against you," Elia said, fixing his messy hair.
"Really?" Benjen asked. He did not want that for Ned.
"Your brother did the wrong thing today, but has he done the right thing before?" Elia asked.
Benjen nodded. "Like a thousand times." Benjen agreed as the shop clerk came by. Elia bent down picking up cans and Benjen joined her.
"My apologies, my little one just grabbed a can -"Elia said covering for Benjen who smiled gratefully.
"Oh it happens all the time," the shopkeeper promised. Eddard came and joined his brother without any words, picking up cans.
"Your brother is a very sweet boy for helping, you both are," Elia said with a kind smile. He gave her a knowing look before looking at Benjen.
"He's a great kid." Eddard agreed.
They finished restacking the cans quickly enough.
"Alright, why don't you go get Benjen some pants. I will pay and go home to get ready, and you can bring benjen by for that haircut and some cocoa," Elia said with a smile.
"I can't have hot cocoa, I'm in trouble," Benjen said. Elia was sure his gruff little northern voice was one of the most darling things in the world.
"It would be rude to refuse such a kind offer," Eddard said, giving his brother a side hug making him smile and Elia light up.
"That would be rude," Elia agreed, still beaming at Eddard. "We will see you boys soon," Elia said.
"By Neddard!" Rhaenys cried, making them all bust into stitches.
…..
When they were back at the house, Rhaegar was reading on the couch, ever the book worm. After less than polite chatter, he retreated into the study. Elia was not surprised but she was disappointed. She was starting to believe Cersei Lannister of all people when her frienemy said Elia was like a sunset and Rhaegar was like the sky at night alone - one of them could shine at a time, it was like they canceled each other out. She put the thought away as she cut the little boys hair in the kitchen. Eddard poured the cocoa and served the ice cream, and sat Aegon on his lap. He got more chocolate ice cream on his face than in it, as Rhaenys happily babbled at Eddard and he chuckled as he continued the conversation happily with her. As content as she was, Elia did not understand why Rhaegar could not come and be a part of their merriment, why he always had to seclude himself.
Eddard seemed like a different species entirely. His beard for one - she had never seen Rhaegar anything but clean shaven, not even the slightest stubble could appear on his face and his hair was kept better then Elia's. She could tell neither Stark man felt as strongly as that as she combed through the younger one's hair. Eddard was a dying breed of manly man while he was also the salt of the earth and happily chattered with Rhaenys about which Disney princess he would be. And he didn't care at all when Aegon spilled ice cream on his grey flannel shirt, shrugging and promising he was not scared of a stain.
Something about the mild-mannered sheriff intrigued her, but then she remembered she was here to save her marriage. And in truth that's what she wanted, it's what she always wanted to get back on the same page with Rhaegar, the father of her children. They had been happy once, they would be again and she was truly counting on Lyanna to babysit more so she was happy to stay in the Stark's good graces.
If that's what you could call Eddard's charming smile that held no falsehoods in it and that deep chuckle of his.
"There! The boy has eyes!" Elia announced, making them laugh.
Eddard pushed a bowl of ice cream to the newly clean-cut Benjen who took it happily. Eddard then handed Elia a cup of cocoa which she thanked him for.
"Mama, Neddard says he is an Elsa, do you agree?" Rhaenys asked.
"Oh, he is totally an Elsa." Elia smiled.
"Your mother is more of a Mulan." Eddard mused.
"No, I am more of an Aurora," Elia assured. Sleeping Beauty was a simple enough story. The princess was nice, true love saved the day and they all lived happily ever after - that was all she wanted.
"No way!" Benjen said who had thus far stayed out of the Disney princess conversation. "Lyanna Googled you, you're like this badass lawyer who got some award for your work for equality in the capital," Benjen said, shocking Eddard.
"Mama was a a-voc-ate," Rhaenys sang.
"I was a lawyer, but it was very important to my husband and his very traditional family I stop once Rhaegar's art took off," Elia said. He nodded as though he understood, not shocked she was once the breadwinner of the family
"Maybe you can inspire Lyanna to focus a little more on schoolwork?" Eddard laughed, eating his own bowl of ice cream.
"Speaking of Lyanna, you should see if she can watch the kids Thursday," Rhaegar said, coming into the kitchen. His hair was in a top knot and his reading glasses on. He had a book in his hand, so he was only giving this conversation half his attention.
"I thought you were going to spend time with the kids?" Elia asked. She needed one day, and he couldn't even do that.
"I am feeling inspired, I can't babysit," he said. Elia would not express her disappointment in front of the kids or tell him it wasn't babysitting if they were in fact your kids.
Rhaegar stole a bite of Rhaenys ice cream with his free hand, making his daughter giggle as he gave her a silly look.
"Eddard, if you take off the shirt, I'll put some Shout on it. As you can see, us southerners keep it hot enough," Rhaegar joked and it was true, Eddard felt he was broiling.
"It's really fine," Eddard promised and Rhaegar nodded, kissing his wife's head because even though she hides it well, she was disappointed. "Besides I was thinking of visiting great uncle Aemon on Thursday," Rhaegar said and watched as Elia immediately became sympathetic, she even whipped a little ice cream off his lip.
"Oh, good he would love that, is there anyway Lyanna would be free?" Elia asked looking to Eddard.
"Lyanna said how much fun she had, she is dying to babysit again," Eddard admitted. He had been surprised by that and although he had been hoping they would not call, he decided that Rhaegar and Elia may not be normal but they were good people he judged too quickly. Both were charismatic in different ways and he decided Elia might be a good role model for Lyanna which he was hoping would be the take away. It would not be.