A bastard, a black bother, a traitor, a northern king and apparently now the ruler of the seven kingdoms. Yet Jon Snow was more confused than he had ever been in his life.

He wanted to be free, that he knew. He wanted to be free and loved but to achieved those things he need her to wake up. His little sister. His cousin?

It had been 4 days since the battle for Winterfell and Arya failed to wake up. No one knew why, the maesters surely didn't. The only assurance was Bran's cryptic: "she'll wake up once she realizes its safe"- whatever the hells that meant before his eyes went white again and left them with more questions.

Arya had killed the Night King. That they knew of. Yet no one saw her in the battle.

Davos claimed he did but his tale was more fantasy than reality saying Arya took more than 10 wights all on her own. Beric Dondarrion had died saving her and the Hound last saw her running inside the castle. It was Brienne and Sansa that stood behind Bran. 'She's the most skilled fighter I've ever encountered' said the tall knight while Sansa stood hours by her slumbering form completely sure she'd wake up 'she's the strongest person I know' Sansa had said with nothing but pride in her voice.

Just when Jon thought he couldn't possibly feel more scared no one had seen Arya. Bran said she had ran just moments before he arrived to the Godswood but no one knew where she was. It was nearly midday the day after the battle that she was found. Davos said that Gendry had found her and true enough she was fast asleep inside the storage room next to the smithy. She was caked in blood but what scared Jon the most was how the Smith had failed to let anyone carry her to the ships and that Arya's only sign of life was when she tossed and mumbled the bastards name.

Gendry said nothing tho. Its our story, hers and mine. Gendry had said once Jon snapped and tried to beat him to speak. Davos had held him back. I'm sorry I didn't say anything before but I thought she was dead, we found each other again and I'll speak to you once I talk to her first. Surprisingly it was Sansa who sided with him, even permitting him to sit with Arya for hours just like Jon did waiting for her to wake up.

"Wake up little sister. Please wake up" he said ruffling up the brown locks Sansa had dutifully brushed every morning. She had short hair now, Jon noticed. She also all together stopped wearing dresses, without their father and Catelyn it made sense Arya wouldn't listen to anyone really. She'd been on her own since her father's murder, Brienne's encounter with the Hound the only proof of her life.

Jon had talked to him, the Hound. It was the second day Arya failed to wake up that Jon found the Hound sleeping beside her, his sword in his hand and his muddy feet on the bed. Once he woke up he'd been pretty clear:

"Walked the riverlands once I took her from that sorry lot the brotherhood was. Took a beating then she left me to die. Thought she'd go running to you on the Wall"- and that was it.

Where did she learn how to fight? Where did she go? He was told she killed Littlefinger without blinking an eye, and people feared her saying the youngest Lady doesn't talk to anyone. Her comings and goings are never seen and he heard servants say that often times she didn't sleep in her bed for days. Although disturbing things Jon didn't address them, they had the night king to worry about making everything seem trivial but now, after everything that happened Jon needed answers. He needed answers and someone to vent to.

After burning the dead and sailing to the Iron Islands Daenerys had given him a week to join her in Dragonstone, the next step was defeating Cersei but was that even his job? The few northerners that survived rallied behind the girls since Jon bent the knee, if he went to support Daenerys would the men even follow him? And if so what of his parentage? If the world got out it would be messy to have so many claimants to the throne. Westeros was still hurting from the war of the 5 kings.

He would confide his parentage to both of his sisters, not Sansa alone. He wasn't joking when he told Arya he needed her help with Sansa; she was just as stubborn as they where and seemed to make her plans to what she thought was right. No, he needed Arya, he needed his little sister on his corner defending him no matter what! But first he needed her to wake up.

"You look like I feel. Pained"- she rasped.

"For fucks sake Arya!" Jon howled. Leave it to Arya to scare him to death after being sick for her.

She smiled but grimaced in pain. She winced as she touched the wound on her head. It was quite the blow that covered part of her face and that was definitely going to leave a mark. Now we match; Jon thought sadly remembering the little girl who idolized him.

"Water"- she said, he reached for a glass but Arya was faster reaching for the jug that was next to the bed drinking straight from it. Water dripped from her mouth to her shirt but she didn't care.

"More?" Jon asked one she emptied it.

"Yes please"- she said. This time accepting a cup. As she drank it Jon could see her looking at her surroundings, it was a meticulous stare, one that drank every detail. "I smell the sea"-

"We"re in the sea. We're in Pyke. Have you seen the sea? Jon asked.

"Not this part" - Arya shrugged continuing drinking water.

When you talk to Arya you have to make sure what kind of questions you ask her. Sansa had briefly said to him once he returned to Winterfell.

"What do you mean?"

It means that if she doesn't want to answer your questions she likes to play games with you. If she doesn't like your intentions she'll confuse you and close herself off. Just make sure your intentions are true.

"What do you mean if my intentions are true? She's my sister, I'd give my life for her wellbeing!

Sansa gave him a sad smile and a kiss on his cheek before leaving. "Its been a while since someone took care of us Jon. We don't know what that is anymore"-

Yet it was the opposite for Jon. He had them back: Sansa, Bran, Arya. And after so much death and loss he'd taken just as they were. He still loved them and hoped they loved him back.

Arya was a mistery now though. His once effervescent sister was as cold and silent as his wolf. Even Ghost showed signs of affection yet Arya showed none. Their first embrace in the Goodswood their first and only one. Since then he could see her back away from anybody that tried to touch her... Yet Gendry.

"Is there still a home for us?"- she asked.

"There will be. We left Winterfell in hands of workers that want to see the Hero of dawn safe and content in her home" Arya rolled her eyes.

"Although something tells me you'd prefer the title of Kingslayer than the former"

Arya smirked "it depends on which monarch I get to kill"- and there it was, that slick smile she now had, it wasn't the same innocent cheerful smile she had when they were children. It was different, crueler, cold and mocking. Ramsay Bolton had that smile. Jon shivered and Arya noticed. Lifting her eyebrow quite honesty the only part of her body that showed any kind of feelings.

"Sansa's safe isn't she? You haven't said anything and I don't feel like something happened to her"-

"No, she's safe and has been looking after you everyday. All of us have"

"We're a small family. There's just three of us and Bran"-

"There's also Lady Brienne. The Hound. And Gendry...how do you know Gendry?

"Are you telling me that Sandor Clegane played nurse after me?"- Arya laughed but she wasn't fooling him.

"Don't dodge my question Arya. What is Gendry to you?"

"What is the dragon Queen to you?"- Sansa's words lingered in his head 'if she doesn't want to answer your questions she likes to play games with you'

"She's complicated... I respect her"

"Gendry is not complicated and he respects me"- she shrugged, stretching her limbs and grimacing. Jon tried another way into her head.

"Who thought you how to fight?

"No One"-

"You're not answering any questions Arya!"

"Of course I am. You're just not listening!"-

"You're awake!"- Gendry said barging inside the room. Apparently they've been shouting.

The look Arya gave Gendry was all Jon needed to know...Ygritte used to look at him like that.

She gave him a small smile. And nodded. "I'm just talking with my brother. I promise I'll call on you once we're done"-

"I'll be waiting outside m'lady. Your grace"- Gendry said closing the door again.

She's my sister but she's not little anymore. She's a grown woman and has lived a life without me just as I did the moment I left to the Wall.

"Can I have some more water?"-

"Of course" Jon offered her her third pitcher. This time she drank more slowly and bit her lips making Jon smile. Whoever she was with couldn't take away that little habit of hers.

"Look..."- she said not looking at him. "I know you have been lost in a foreign land. I've know that you have loved and lost and that you have trusted and been betrayed. All of that has happened to me Jon, it hasn't been easier nor harder. I haven't died but almost did and I have the same scars you have to prove it.

You once told me that different paths often lead to the same castle and we both made it home. Just don't ask me how because I'm not ashamed that my hands are tainted with blood. I'm ashamed of how you'll look at me once you know how much I like it"-

Gray eyes held gray eyes captive. It was a starring match that whatever it was Arya saw in his eyes was enough for her to smile and break contact.

"Father would be proud of you. Of me? He would say I was better off with the Silent Sisters mother often threatened me with"-

They both laughed at that. A welcomed break from their conversation.

"I am" he said after a beat, taking her hand in his. This time she didn't flinch.

"You're what?"

"Proud of you. I always was and I always will" Jon hoped she truly knew it.

"You should rest" he said standing and given her a kiss on her head. "There's something important about me I want to discuss but I need you clear headed first. Sleep and I'll come back later"

Arya instantly agreed yawning and snuggling in her furs. "OK. Send Gendry will you?"-

"I thought we agreed you needed to rest?"

"We did. I sleep better when he's next to me"-

"Arya..."

"Look, that part I can tell you. I'll tell you everything about Gendry just not right now ok? I need to speak to him first"-

She's a woman grown. Jon reminded himself as he opened the door and Gendry looked him straight in the eye, no hiding, standing straight and tall. "Waters" he acknowledged him.

"Snow"- he said not missing a beat.

He was about to close the door when Arya called him back. "Jon!"- Gendry already sitting next to her on the bed inspecting the wound on her head. "We fought the battle with the dead. Now we get to live"-

She smiled at him, the old smile, her true smile and everything was ok, at least for that exact moment in time.

"Aye, now we live little wolf"