Disclaimer: I recently got obsessed with Game of Thrones, but doesn't mean I own it!
Story: It's that time of the year. The annual Stark-Baratheon-Lannister family gathering is at hand. For Sansa, this year things are the same and not. Though...maybe a little more not, if some of her interactions are any indications. After all, some of her guy friends are being really strange with her. Maybe it's just the holiday spirit? Then again, she's still cooking with Tywin and snarking with Renly, and maybe she's still awkward around Roose –but that's just been the way of things, right? Where the hell did Oberyn come from though?! (Kicking off this Universe like I should've ages ago)
Set as a gigantic modern AU universe.
Spoilers: Nope.
Warnings: Nope.
Pairings: (Main) Roosa (Roose /Sansa), Stansa (Stannis/Sansa), and Tysan (Tywin/Sansa). (Side) Oberyn/Sansa for much fun and irritation XD

Deck the Halls
Chapter Two: Winter Wonderland (Maybe Not So Wonder)

Renly's hair was in her face and she had to wiggle away. Gods, her best friend had a vice grip in his sleep. She pitied Loras if Renly was like this every time they slept together.

She hadn't even gotten to really settle into her room last night!

No, instead she and Renly had stayed in bed, watching TikTok and music videos on YouTube, and then scouring the web for stupid memes. Eventually, they'd both fallen asleep and now she was desperately trying to escape a snoring Renly's hold.

Once she finally extricated herself from him, she padded over to her room and realized it wasn't too far away from Renly's —something she'd somehow not noted before. Seeing it was still early, she unpacked her things and then took a quick shower and brush of her teeth. She had just brushed her hair on her way down, when she entered the kitchen to good smells.

If her mouth unwittingly moved into the hugest grin she'd had so far there at the Baratheon home, it's only because seeing Tywin Lannister in the kitchen made her wholeheartedly, genuinely happy.

"Hey you," Sansa didn't bother smothering her grin.

He turned from the stove slightly, glancing at her. "Good morning," he returned wryly. "Eggs?"

"Fried or scrambled?"

He tilted his head towards the pan. "I was working on scrambled, but I know you have a preference for sunny side up."

"Scrambled is fine," Sansa waved him off, already rolling her sleeves up and finding the bread, preparing the toaster oven. "Jam or butter?"

"The pomegranate jam, if you will."

She made a 'hmm' noise and began laying out the bread to toast before rummaging in the fridge for the jam. "Do we have all the things we need to cook for the dinner?"

"We do," Tywin confirmed, eying the eggs and deeming them ready. "When would you like to start?"

"Early as possible," Sansa took out the toast and began spreading jam on two of the slices. "Easier to take control of the kitchen then too."

She saw Jaime and Tyrion enter then, both smelling the air and licking their lips. Following behind them was Cersei, who looked hung over and was wearing large sunglasses that hid her eyes (she'd guess they were bloodshot and the morning light was killer on them).

"I have let my children know they are to not enter the kitchen then," Tywin said as if said children were not there in person.

"Are we banned from the kitchen again?" Tyrion asked goodnaturedly, ignored by his father. Sansa shot him an apologetic smile.

Jaime gave a mock pout. "I want to cook with you two!"

"You can't even boil water, Jaime," Tyrion snarked. "Last time you 'helped' was the first and only time, and you somehow burned water."

"I would like to be part of it," Cersei sneered irritably, straightening her posture. "Why can't I help you two out?"

Sansa looked away, but the other three Lannisters (even Tywin) winced and avoided Cersei's glare.

"You can't cook," Tyrion said bluntly.

An image of the year Cersei had 'volunteered' to help the Christmas Eve dinner flashed through their heads, remembering dark smoke and fire, and a demolished stove.

"You were even worse than me," Jaime muttered.

Cersei directed her glare full on at her twin.

"And I?" Tyrion snorted and shook his head. "I was no help —I mostly got in the way and drank most of your cooking wine."

"Hence, none of my children are allowed in the kitchen," he gave them a pointed glare.

Sansa pressed her lips together tightly, trying not to laugh. Honestly though, it was a horror to let them into the kitchen.

It was much, much better to keep the kitchen to herself and Tywin when it came to the cooking.

Food was quickly made for the rest of the Lannisters, before she finished up before them and went to wash her plate and utensils, and then some of the other dishes that had been used while cooking had been done. Jaime sidled up next to her, helping her out.

"So last night I didn't get to see you," he griped quietly, giving her a knowing look.

"You weren't there to greet me," she replied with a roll of her eyes.

"But I went to see you in your room," she could almost say he was pouting.

"I was keeping Renly company," she admitted outright.

Jaime was definitely pouting now. "Don't forget your other best friend. You know, your actual best friend."

Sansa refrained from slapping her wet hands against her face…

…Or throwing the plate she was reaching for at a grumpy (and yet smug?) face of Jaime Lannister.

After breakfast, Sansa made herself scarce, determined to disappear and continue to avoid everyone. She wanted a calmer year than before, where nothing had been calm. In fact, Sansa had suffered utter agony each year with her dysfunctional family. Maybe she was being a bit of a Grinch, but still…At least she was participating in the public gala the shared families were throwing that night!

Sansa took out her gown, giving it a look over with a pleased and proud look. She had made it herself, taking great care and patience with it. The resulting gown that had come from her own hands made her rather emotional, knowing her hard work had created something she was proud to have made and to wear.

She'd made the gown with a halter top that was heavy with golden flowery designs, a backdrop of black that was more pronounced around the upper sides of the halter top while also framing a sweetheart neckline that would just give a slight cleavage she'd get away with (without giving her father a heart attack). It connected to a slightly full illusion skirt that flared out with the same black and gold design, a sheer fabric layer of chiffon to give it a 'floating' look.

She'd wanted to make a knockout dress and she was sure this one was!

A knock on her door interrupted her giggly admiration of her creation, and when she went over to see who it was, she grinned at Renly and pulled him in so she could show off her dress.

He whistled loudly. "Good work, Sansa. It looks fabulous." He suddenly smirked. "But it will definitely match what I came here to hand over."

Renly dug a hand into a pocket and then pulled something out, holding a hand out to her and opening it, revealing a pair of gorgeous earrings she gasped at.

"Since you're wearing Baratheon colors, I think it's fitting you wear some Baratheon heirlooms," he told her gently, still holding his palm out.

She gave him a confused look and he elaborated.

"These were my mother's," he told her. "I wanted to give them to you as an early Christmas gift."

"What? You can't!" Sansa protested, knowing how important his mother was to him. "They belonged to your mother!"

"And they need a pretty lady to wear them," Renly pointed out. "Seeing as I'm not a woman, nor is Loras, I hardly need them and we don't wear earrings in any case. And I would very much like to gift them to someone important to me. So here." He took one and took off the back clasp, holding it out.

Touched but still hesitant, she turned her head and allowed him to carefully slip the earring into her pierced lobe and waited for him to put the backing on. He did the same to the other side and then pulled back, nodding in satisfaction.

"There," he said pleased. "Now your look is complete!"

She gave him an affectionate smile and when he held out his arms, she didn't hesitate to step into them and hug him back.

He pulled back a little after, grinning softly. "So why don't we take our time heading over, let them all into the gala first and make our late, fashionable entry?"

"Yes, let's," Sansa smiled happily at him.

After parting with Renly, who grumpily headed over to Robert, she walked around aimlessly. She also continued to avoid her family mulishly (and the Lannisters, since she'd already had Jaime complaining about her wearing 'Baratheon colors' that breakfast after she'd let slip about her gown —it had been a complete accidental choice of colors, and instead made them start prodding her into wearing 'correct' family colors…like red and gold).

After another comment on her earrings and dress from another attendee, she plied herself away and looked around. To her detriment, she spotted Joffrey coming over, a sickly sweet smile on his wormy lips.

Taking a step back, she looked around again, this time trying to find a way to escape. Someone stepped into her view, a man's broad chest blocking her eyesight. Looking up slightly, she saw Roose there and he held his hand out, palm facing upwards.

"May I have this dance?" he asked softly and she took it, both dazed at the request and who it was from, and relieved to have a reason to avoid Joffrey.

He pulled her in closer and placed a hand respectfully on her waist and held the other, moving into a slow sway that she relaxed into. His large hands were warm against her.

"Thanks for the save, Roose," she gave him a small grin.

"You are welcome, Sansa," he dipped his head slightly. "I should say I am just a bit better company than the Blond Overlord."

She blinked and then nearly fell out of hold with him with the eruption of giggles. "Oh Gods, you've definitely been around Robb and Jon too much if now you're starting to call Joffrey that."

"He's a prick with a complex," Roose deadpanned remorselessly.

It made Sansa want to break out into another fit of giggles.

But then after she straightened up, he gave a slight tug and she found herself closer to him. She sucked in a breath and felt her cheeks warm, and she regretfully thought that this was not the first time Roose Bolton had made her weak in the knees.

Looking up into Roose's face, their eyes connected and she bit her lip, probably imagining the slight dart of his eyes to it.

Dancing with Roose mightn't of been such a good idea after all.

Not when he had a terrible habit of making her heart feel like it was having a heart attack or like there was something wrong with her knees.

Roose had always been such a strange, strange man and made many a people uncomfortable and creeped out, but he'd always been rather beautiful to her.

He gave a quirk up to his lips that made her smile sadly in return, concern briefly appearing in his marbled gray eyes. The song ended and she let herself step away from him, his lips pressing tight together.

In her peripherals, she saw Joffrey coming over again and she mumbled a curse. Roose turned unnoticeably and frowned.

"Go on," he told her in his soft voice. "I'll take care of him while you make your exit."

She reached out hesitantly and squeezed his arm thankfully, and slipped into the crowd, disappearing into it without a trace.

Started 12/25/19 – Completed 1/3/20

Omake! II

"I'm not making popcorn this time."

"Well someone has to. And you're the one who makes things."

"Be more useful than get into fights all the time!"

"If we're going to enjoy this dramafest, we do need some popcorn."

"Oh alright, I've got the popcorn this time!"

"…Do we have any alcohol to go with that?"

Started 2/2/20 – Completed 2/2/20

A/n: Gonna keep on updating a chapter a day~

Quick Points:

1. Current GoT Fics: Her Song of Fire and Ice (SansaxRoose/Stannis/Tywin), A Red King Bowed (Roose/Sansa), and March to My Heartbeat (Stannis/Sansa). Also hoping to post Deck the Halls today, to get started on that 'verse~