Theon

Robb was kneeling on the patio in the back garden, trying to teach the puppies how to sit while Theon observed from a deck chair. Robb's task was a difficult enough one, Theon knew, if there was only one pup to train, never mind if there were five of them. The pups' mother lay in the sunshine, disregarding all her brood's yips for attention.

'Sit. Sit.' Robb said patiently, patting each pup on the rump. Theon shook his head. It was a stupid idea. When one pup sat, the others would jump over it to lick Robb's face.

'Why are you doing this as a group, Stark?' he said. He shrugged out of his jacket, and reclined in his chair. 'Separating them would be a better idea. Train them separately.'

'No.' Robb said. 'Sit down, Grey Wind.' A smile flickered across his face as the pup in question licked his hand. The little grey pup was Robb's favourite.

'At least hit them a little. They'll only do what you want when the alternative is pain.'

Robb stared at Theon, his face like thunder.

'Would you hit a baby for crying? Maybe that's how they do it in the Greyjoy house, but not in this one. You of all people should know that. They're a pack. They have to experience things as a pack. And it's not a shaking, fearful pack of dogs I need. A dog who's afraid of its master is a poor dog.'

Theon shrugged. For the love he bore Robb he didn't push the subject. The man was like a brother to him, but they disagreed on many things.

'I'll believe it when I see it, Stark,' he said. Robb smirked.

'You will, Greyjoy.'

The door connecting the front and back gardens creaked, and the pups flooded over towards the sound, yipping and barking their shrill barks as they went. Robb cocked an eyebrow at Theon, as if to say See what I mean?. Theon pulled a face, and turned his attention back to the door. It was Arya and one of her friends. As soon as she passed the doorframe Arya fell to the ground and started yipping with the dogs, rolling over to let them clamber over her.

'That's another thing I won't do,' Robb told Theon. 'Their mother's a lazy bitch, so I have to be their alpha. Which means no playing like that. Arya's part of their pack, but I'm in control of it.'

Theon nodded as if he understood. He waved his hand in a 'whatever' gesture.

'Hey Arya,' he said to the pup-covered girl on the ground.

'Theon,' she replied. She must be in a good mood, Theon thought. Normally, all he got was a grunt.

A boy, younger than Theon but older than Arya, followed her through the doorway. He walked slowly, seemingly hesitant to step into the yard with the dogs. Theon grinned at Robb. Robb rolled his eyes.

'Hello there!' Theon called, rising from the chair smoothly. In three paces he had closed the distance between them, and grabbed the boy's hand in two of his own. 'Pleased to meet you, I'm Theon. You must be Arya's boyfriend.'

'Theon!' Arya shouted from the ground. The pups went into a chorus of yelps at her raised voice.

The boy turned a spluttering shade of pink, which was what Theon had hoped for.

'Theon,' Robb said, smiling. 'Don't scare the boy. Hi, I'm Robb.' Robb shunted Theon aside not-too-gently, and took the boy's hand.

'Edric Dayne,' the boy said. 'Ned.'

'Ned, lovely to meet you. Are you staying for dinner?'

'Oh, I'd better not, I should –'

'You should stay,' Arya jumped up. 'Mam always cooks too much.'

Theon punched her arm lightly, and winked grotequely. Arya looked at him with contempt.

'You shouldn't stay, Greyjoy.' she added.

Theon lifted a hand and placed it over his heart.

'My days! Young Miss Stark expresses her distaste for me! However will I – oh I don't care.' He gave Arya a look of her own. She snorted, and turned back to Ned.

'Yeah, you should stay. It'll take you ages to get to Starfall, your dinner there will go cold by the time you get back.'

'Starfall!' Theon exclaimed. 'I'm not sure if our plebeian food will be quite good enough for a Starfall resident.'

'That was a big word for you, Theon,' Arya spat. 'Did you rob a teacher this week?'

He just smiled. Robb made a little -ahem!- noise in the back of his throat, and stepped between them.

'Stay for dinner, Ned,' he said to the boy. 'My pain sister is right; Mam always makes too much. Come on, Theon, let's go to the store.' With that, he entered the house.

Theon stayed for a few seconds and leered at Arya before following. Robb had gone upstairs to get his car keys, so he loitered in the kitchen watching Catelyn cook for a few seconds. He never remembered his own mother cooking.

'Smells nice, Catelyn,' he said. 'Chilli?'

'Yes. Your favourite, wasn't it?'

Theon nodded. 'Yeah.'

'Theon! Let's go!' Robb didn't re-enter the kitchen. Theon heard the front door open, then went to the hall. Before he left the kitchen, he turned back.

'Do you want anything from the store, Catelyn?' he asked.

'Oh no, thank you Theon. And don't be long. This should be ready in about twenty minutes.' Catleyn smiled at him before turning back to the food.