SANSA'S POV
While they were rushing down the stairs of Winterfell into de country yard, Sansa thought about all the possible things this "urgent matter" was all about. And Podrick's excitement made it even more difficult to figure out.
She was starting to get restless when she saw a shape that she knew too well. Her sister was finally home and she was ready to run to her and hug her when she saw Arya kneeling in front of an even smaller figure. It looked like a child. She was just a few feet away from her sister when she heard the child calling Arya…
Sansa: MOMMY!?
Arya and the child both jumped when they heard Sansa's scream. With a surprise look in her face, Arya approached her sister.
Arya: Hello sister! It's nice to see you again
Sansa: (With a shocked look in her face and looking directly at the child instead of Arya) Likewise… did I hear correctly?
Anna: (Smiling widely) Yes you did auntie Sansa!
Sansa: Auntie? I'm an aunt?
Arya: Well if she's my kid and you are my sister that pretty much makes you an aunt
Sansa: (Still in shock) But how? When? Who-?
Arya: All in due time Sansa… I will tell you everything but first, I want to properly introduce you to my daughter: Anna.
Sansa: Oh right! Right Sorry- (Kneeling in front of Anna) It's very nice to meet you Anna. I'm sorry if I scared you earlier… I was just very surprised. But I am very happy that you exist. I always wanted to have a niece and now I do. Can I hug you?
Anna: (Jumping straight into Sansa's arms and hugging her) And I've always wanted to meet my auntie Sansa. Mom's told me all about you! And she was right! You are super tall and pretty.
Sansa: (Laughing) Look who's talking? You're the prettiest girl I've ever seen. I think you could even be prettier than Lyanna Stark
Anna: That's who I'm named after!
Arya: Anna! You were supposed to keep that to yourself! Ugh you are just like your father…
Anna: Sorry Mom! But my auntie brought her up
Sansa: (Turning to Arya) You named her after Lyanna? Well… that makes sense. She is both fierce and beautiful, just like her.
Arya: Yes… that's one of the reasons why I named her that, but she and I prefer to call her Anna. We think it suits her best and it also protects her identity a lot better.
Sansa: (Looking at her niece) alright then… Anna it is. Welcome to your family. Remember: Winter is coming.
Anna: And the pack survives
Sansa: Oh my god my heart is melting. I can't- Can I introduce her to Tyrion? Wait! Who else knows about her? Does Jon know about her? You do remember he is the King now…
Arya: Nobody knows about her. Just you.
Podrick: And me!
Arya: (Looking at Podrick) You can't tell anybody about Anna, understood?
Podrick: Of course Arya. Not a soul.
Arya: (turning her attention back to Sansa) Sansa do you have a place for us to stay? One that's private and entirely for us?
Sansa: Of course I do. Your room has been waiting for you since you left… You two will always have a home here.
Arya: (Tearing up a little bit after Sansa's words) Thank you Sana. Honestly (Shaking the tears away) Listen, I know a lot of Lords and Ladies are here and I presume they are in the middle of a special dinner or something, right?
Sansa: Yes! They are in the middle of their Welcome dinner. Why? Do you want to go there and meet everybody?
Anna/Arya: YES! /NO!
Anna: But Mommy! I want to!
Arya: I know honey but not today. You are too much of a surprise and I want to tell Jon first, ok? But you will meet everybody tomorrow. I promise!
Anna: Ok Mom…
Arya: So, Podrick. Please tell Brianne about our arrival and let her know that we will be staying in my old room. I would like for her to meet Anna tomorrow morning and help me with this whole charade until we talk to Jon.
Podrick: (Nodding and leaving) I'm on it
Arya: Is Jon here?
Sansa: Not yet, we are expecting him to arrive sometime tomorrow.
Arya: Ok that's great. So we will go to my room and you can get back to your dinner as if nothing happened, is that ok?
Sansa: Yes that's perfect. Are you sure you don't need help with anything else?
Arya: Don't worry we're fine. We are just very tired
Anna: (Yawning and closing her eyes) Yes mommy, I'm sleepy
Sansa: And two minutes ago you wanted to go and meet everybody. Where did that spirit go?
Arya: (Lifting Anna and carrying her while she started to walk towards her room) Don't remind her. Let's go to sleep ok?
Anna: Ok Mommy (And just like that Anna fell asleep on her mother's arms)
Sansa: Arya, she's adorable. If she didn't look exactly like you I could swear you stole her or something
Arya: Yeah… she gets that from her father
Sansa: Her Father, huh… Do I know him?
Arya: (Pause) Yes you do…
Sansa: (Whispering harshly) what!? I DO?
Arya: Yes you do and he's probably in this castle right now
Sana: WHAT!? Who is he? Does he know about her?
Arya: (Whispering while entering her room with Sansa and putting Anna to bed) No… he doesn't know about her but he will, soon.
Sansa: Who is he!?
Arya: Did you look at Anna's eyes? (Sansa nods) Who else has that kind of blue eyes and is sweet as hell?
Sansa: (Connecting the dots) Oh my God! I KNEW IIIT!
Arya: DON'T SAY HIS NAME! (pointing at Anna's frame) She doesn't know yet. But I'm sure she'll figure it out very soon. I'm planning on telling her tomorrow morning. I don't want her to find out by accident.
Sansa: (Containing her emotion) Ok ok… I won't say anything. Wow! He's going to be pissed
Arya: You think I don't know that? …But you know what? I don't care. I don't care if he hates me forever I just want them to be family too. Thy both need it and they both deserve it.
Sansa: Of course you'd care if he hates you or not. Arya I know you and you would have never done that if you didn't have feelings for the guy. Don't try to insult me by denying it.
Arya: (Letting out a big breath) I won't… Look it doesn't matter how I feel ok? He moved on and I just care about Anna now. I know he'll probably hate me and I will hate myself because of that but… I only care about Anna's happiness. And I know he will love her with all his heart so… that's all that matters.
Sansa: Why didn't you come here? Why didn't you tell us anything? We could have helped you.
Arya: I thought about it for a while but news travel very fast in this continent and I was just so paranoid after the wars… I just kept running from place to place. I didn't want her to be a target or something. (Pausing) After I trained to be a Faceless Man I stopped feeling altogether. I forgot about fear, about love, about family… When I came back to Winterfell all those years ago… I didn't know how to be human again. How to be alive again… not until I saw Anna's father again. My feelings started to come back, all of them. And after the massacre in King's Landing and realizing that I was pregnant… My instincts kicked in and I just ran… I had to leave. I had to keep my pup safe. So I went beyond the wall and gave birth to her there. The Wildings always kind of loved me after I killed the Night King so they felt like they owed me. So they kept my secret. She's from the north and I wanted her to be born there as well
Sansa: (Crying) Oh Arya! You really are the strongest person I know. I just wish I could have been there for you… I'm so proud of you sister. I'm going to hug you now, I don't care what you say (Hugs Arya) I'm very happy that both of you are home for the wedding. And I'll include Anna in the bridal party somehow
Arya: (Breaking the hug) Oh dear… dresses. She has never worn one before and if she's anything like me… she'll hate them.
Sansa: Yeah well I don't care. It's my wedding and it's the only day I will ever ask you both to wear one and that's final.
Arya: Yeah I'm too tired to fight you right now. You need to leave so I can go to sleep
Sansa: (Laughing) ARYA! Gods you never change! Fine I'll go! Let me know of you need anything ok?
Arya: Yeah sure! Now go and let me sleep woman!
Sansa: (Leaving) Alright I'm leaving! I'm leaving! (Pausing and turning towards Arya) Arya?
Arya: Yes?
Sansa: Welcome back
Arya smiled while Sansa closed her bedroom door. Tomorrow was going to be a very difficult day.