"What in the seven gates of hell does she mean, 'I'm pregnant'?"

Merilyn and Jaime sat on the couch in the old sun room. It had become more and more of a refuge for Merilyn and the Lord to be of Casterly Rock could often be found with her there. Just moments ago, he had persuaded her to sit and be still and cease her pacing. The news her sister spoke last night reverberated throughout Merilyn's troubled mind.

"She cannot mean she's actually pregnant, my lord. It cannot be possible."

Jaime sighed, "If she said she is, I think it's safer for us to believe her and try to circumvent this debacle than go on pretending your sister, who is old enough to be married –"

Shrilly, Merilyn stood and shouted, "She is most certainly not! SHE'S THIRTEEN!"

"Merilyn, she's bled. That's all that matters and you know that."

"My father would never marry her off this early," she resumed her pacing.

"Like your father waited to marry you off?" He questioned lazily, watching her form pace the long room.

She whirled around and pointed directly to him, "That was not his choice. You and I are both fully aware of the little options he was left with after -."

"I doubt he's bemoaning the fact that his eldest daughter married into the richest family in -."

"My father never gave a shit about money," she hissed, "If he could've chosen my marriage on his own terms, he would've picked an honest and loyal Northerner."

Jaime resisted rolling his eyes, "Yes, and you would've been miserable with a pawing lackey in your bed who can't string three intelligent words together."

"You act as if that's not exactly the man I did marry." She stopped her pacing suddenly and turned to look at him with a terrified look, "I apologize. That was completely out of turn."

He tried to keep his face as straight as possible, "Tread softly, Merilyn, or I'll rethink the idea of beating one's wife."

She stared at him for a few moments, trying to ascertain if he was being sincere and when he smirked, she let out the breath she had been holding. Deflated of her anger, she sat back down on the couch next to him.

"I cannot imagine my young sister, Sansa, as a mother. She can hardly take care of herself. I cannot even trust her alone with Rickon. How is she pregnant?"

"I did think that would be an explanation I'd never have to give to you."

"Is nothing you ever say serious?" She sighed.

"I assure you, my lady, there was nothing remotely comical about that statement. If I really have to explain how your sister got with child –"

She waved her hand, frustrated, "Enough. I understand. I just cannot think of it."

They sat in their own thoughts for a few moments, before Jaime looked at her curiously, "Did she say who the father was?"

Merilyn rolled her eyes, "Yes, another reason why I'm not sure I believe her. She said it was Willas who got her with child."

"Why would that be a reason to not believe her? He's with her all the time."

She scoffed, "She follows him like a lost calf. He's only with her a lot because she refuses to leave him. Additionally, if the amount of time a man spends with a woman is the key ingredient in a pregnancy than you could very well say Willas is the father of this baby." She gestured to her stomach.

Jaime's gaze darkened, "But he's not."

"Of course not, you arse." She rolled her eyes, "I'm making a point. Willas would never do anything so out of line. He respects our Family and he's a good man."

"Good men still think with their cocks occasionally, my little lady."

She rolled her eyes and stood up, "Ser!"

Jaime reached up and pulled her back down, "I'll be serious. I will."

She looked up into his eyes, "I'm terrified for her. What are we supposed to do?"

"I'll talk to Willas. If she says he's the one, then it does warrant some discussion. She has two options, Merilyn, and you won't like either."

Merilyn didn't respond but looked down at her hands. She hadn't wasted time in telling Jaime after leaving Sansa in her bed where the poor girl had cried herself to sleep. Merilyn realized this wasn't something she could write her mother for advice. Sansa had come to her for help. Merilyn just had no idea how to help her.

"We can send her home. We've plans to send them back anyway in a few weeks. She faces your parents and they decide what is best."

"She'll go to the Septa's House."

Jaime continued on like he hadn't heard her, "Or we keep her here and try to hide her. You can tell them she's training with our Septa hear and enjoying the Southern country."

Merilyn thought a moment, chewing on her bottom lip anxiously, "Do you think…Jaime, what if we," she trailed off.

"What?"

She glanced at the floor, "What about moon tea?"

Jaime looked at her seriously, "Is that something you're willing to think about, Merilyn?"

"I don't know. It could kill Sansa. But I don't know what life she'll have when she…"

"Bears an illegitimate child?" He finished. She flinched and closed her eyes.

"How could she do this to us?" She put her head in her hands and pressed hard at her eyelids, "The little fool has ruined her life."

Merilyn offered Sansa the cup of tea she was holding. Her younger sister took it from her hands adeptly and settled in the chair across from her.

"I know the sickness will set in soon if you're anything like me," She tried to smile at Sansa and instead looked down at the cup of tea in her own hands. Forcing herself to look up, she saw Sansa looking out of the window with a mournful face.

It was nearing nightfall, after they had eaten. Merilyn had invited Sansa into her rooms so they could talk. But neither of them seemed in much of a mood to converse. Setting her tea down, she reached out and smoothed her dress. The flowing crimson was light and cool, but the richness in colour tempered the casualness of the look. She fingered the buttons that were scattered in a line down the middle and took a deep breath.

"Sansa, we need to talk about what is going to happen."

"What do you mean?" She dragged her gaze from the window and looked at her, "I thought there weren't any options."

"Mother and Father are going to be furious. You can't just shrug your shoulders and pretend that this isn't happening or that it will all just go away."

"I know that," Sansa snapped.

Irritated with her tone, Merilyn growled, "Well, you certainly didn't think of your actions before –"

Sansa cut her off, "I don't need a lecture. You're not my mother."

Maybe it was Sansa's tone of voice that made Merilyn react the way she did or maybe it was the fact that Arya had already pointed out this fact. Or maybe Merilyn missed their mother more than anything in the world and didn't need a reminder that she most certainly was not her. Any number of reasons could've contributed to her response. But she lost the rest of her patience.

"I'm well aware that I am not Mother, Sansa," her voice was cold and sharp, "and you should be thankful for that. Gods know that if I were our mother, you'd have been sent to the Septa's House by now – never to see the light of freedom again. Do you have any idea what you've done?"

- - - Across the castle

Jaime had told himself he would remain calm and in control. He swore that he could handle talking in a rational and thoughtful manner without degrading statements or sarcasm. He'd been wrong.

"Ser, I swear, I never touched her," Willas protested, looking desperate.

Jaime had lost track of how many times he'd heard that particular phrase in the last few moments, "Come now, Willas. It's hardly unheard of for a man of your status and… virility to seduce a young girl of family. She's inexperienced. It'd be an easy game to convince her she's in love."

"I would never. You have to believe me, my lord," beseeched Willas, "I don't know why she's saying otherwise."

"Protesting won't really get you linked to her though. Most men in your position get a virgin pregnant so that marriage is the only option to salvage the family honor. So if this wasn't your plan then –"

"Please, Ser, I don't know why she's claiming its mine. I've never been alone with her longer than a few heartbeats. It's impossible."

Jaime continued his thoughts over Willas's protestations watching his face carefully, "So if it wasn't about a status change, what was it for? Was it just about crawling between uncharted territories? You wanted to taste virgin blood. Did you enjoy tricking a child into lifting her skirts and lying on her back? You told her your court escapades and enchanted her with your stories and knightly deeds. And then you whispered softly to her about romance and the love shared between true lovers."

"I care nothing for that girl!" Willas stood and roared, "She's mean nothing to me other than she's my lady's sister."

Jaime stared coldly at him, "then why name you the father?"

"I don't know! I have never and would never be with her so inappropriately!"

"Because you're above such temptation," Jaime raised one eyebrow in disbelief.

"Because I'm in love with someone else!"

- - - Across the way

Sansa pushed her chair away from the table, "Of course, I'm aware! But it can be fixed!"

"That's your only thought on the subject? You've brought disgrace on the Stark family. You've ruined your chance at a prosperous marriage. Think of what Robb would say. Think of our parents' reactions. But your thought is instead 'it can be fixed.'"

"It can be. You're acting as if this doesn't happen every day. I know it does."

"May the Gods help me," Merilyn sighed, "It does not happen to ladies, Sansa."

"Matilde said that Lady Hightower's eldest daughter had to be married in secret just last fortnight."

"So now the gossip from a maid is what you'd like to live your life on?" Merilyn was getting more and more furious. It was as if her sister had lost all of their Septa's training out of her thick head. "Sansa, when did you and Willas… consummate?"

She blushed and looked down, "I don't remember the exact time. It happened and that's all I would like to say."

Merilyn touched her forehead gingerly, as if hoping touching the offending body part would make the throbbing ache that was building suddenly disappear. "We have decided on two options. You will be sent home and our parents can come to a decision –"

Sansa stood up suddenly, "No! I will not go home and you cannot force me to it."

"Understand this, Sansa, you are in the worst predicament a young girl can be in, and by all rights, you could be quite easily disowned if our family saw fit."

"But I love him."

"Which is all well and good, Sansa, but love is not the most important –"

"You're envious that Willas loves me and your husband only tolerates you!"

Merilyn scoffed, "Don't act like a child. This has nothing to do with me."

"It has everything to do with you. I'm going to marry Willas, be loved by him, and have his child. You will remain miserable and unable to bear children."

"I think," a cold voice cut into the room, "that will be quite enough of that."

Jaime strode in; his furious face telling that he had heard quite enough of the conversation. He walked up to wear Sansa stood and towered over her, "Your sister has been extremely lenient of your foul behavior up to this point. Continue with your treatment of her and I shall make your life for more unpleasant than you could possibly imagine."

Sansa sat down meekly and glanced up at Merilyn, "I am sorry for what I said."

Merilyn nodded and then looked up at Jaime, "Thank you. Why are you here?"

Jaime sat down next to her and stretched his legs out, "I've just come from a conversation with Willas. He maintains that he has never been indecent with your young sister."

"Men lie. He's lying of course," scoffed Sansa.

"He seemed to me, quite sincere," Jaime stated steadily. He took the glass that was sitting in front of Merilyn and downed the tea easily.

"No. But I am with child and it is his!" Her voice had risen to a shriek as she watched Jaime now casually bite into a lemon cake.

"Of course," he tipped his head towards her, "and since that is the situation we currently find ourselves, we must come to a solution, yes?"

Merilyn watched this interaction almost amusedly. Whereas anything she said or did was likely to infuriate Sansa, Jaime almost managed to get the girl to cower without any kind threat of violence or a raised voice. In her opinion, that was quite the talent.

"Sansa," she broke the silence, "if you don't wish to go home, we can send you to a home for your confinement. If we keep gossip to a minimum, you may come out of this mostly unscathed."

"I don't understand," Sansa's voice shook with tears, "I'm to go somewhere… away from here? I wouldn't stay here?"

"If we have any hopes for you to make a good marriage match, this cannot be known."

Sansa stood up slowly, "What about marriage to Willas? It's his child. He's had my virtue. Wouldn't that be the solution?"

Merilyn scoffed, "You married to Willas? Sansa Stark, he's an employed soldier. You're the second daughter to the Warden in the North."

"But I love him!"

"He doesn't love you," Jaime interrupted, talking with his mouth full of another lemon cake. He had to be eating Sansa's favourite cake on purpose.

Sansa's mouth hung open and Merilyn stifled an inappropriate urge to giggle. She looked back at Jaime curiously. When Jaime had said he would talk to Willas, she didn't imagine them having a conversation to bear all their feelings.

"You don't know," Sansa recovered, straightening her back.

"Actually, he said that exactly –"

"It doesn't matter! Marriage is the option!"

"Sansa, please, see reason," Merilyn felt desperate, "what would we tell Mother and Father?"

Sansa shrugged, "they won't be able to object if it's already happened."

Merilyn fought back another urge, this time avoiding slamming her head onto the table and sending the dishware flying, "You cannot believe that everything will be perfect if we force Willas to marry you."

"It was done for Matilde!" Sansa near screamed. As soon as the sentence left her mouth, Sansa's hand flew up to her face.

Merilyn sat in confusion, not at Sansa's confession, but at the smirk that had now crept onto Jaime's face.

"Sansa," he said, almost patiently, "I think you should have a seat."

She glanced at Merilyn, but sat nonetheless. Jaime looked at her silently for a few moments and then sighed.

"I think you should tell us where you heard about Matilde. In fact, I think you should us the truth about this whole situation."

"I don't know what you mean about the full situation."

He clicked his tongue, "You're not helping yourself. If you refuse to tell the truth, you and your siblings are being sent back tomorrow and Merilyn will write a letter to your mother explaining everything."

Sansa shut her eyes violently, "Matilde said that the only reason her husband married her is because she got with child. She told me that if I wished to marry Willas this was what I had to do."

"But Willas never tried." Jaime stated simply. Merilyn felt like her head was spinning all of a sudden. It was her turn for her mouth to hang open when Sansa nodded her head to Jaime's statement.

"Sansa," Merilyn looked her dead in the eye, "are you with child?"

Sansa shook her head and started to cry, "When I told Matilde that he wouldn't… that he wasn't interested, she told me to say I was. Then Willas would be forced to marry me and then I could claim that I lost the child but he would still be married to me."

Merilyn put her head in her hands, "how could you do this?"

Sansa sobbed harder, "I love him."

"You stupid girl, what is wrong with you?" Merilyn looked at her in anger.

Jaime stood and set a hand on Merilyn's shoulder, "I think you should go try and get some rest, Sansa. Go to bed and we can talk about this tomorrow."

Sansa nodded, still sobbing hard and stood, hoping to catch Merilyn's eye, "I didn't want to hurt anyone. I just thought…" She trailed off and walked towards the door when Merilyn didn't answer.

When Sansa reached the door, Merilyn looked up, "If I see you anywhere near Willas within the next few days before you leave for Winterfell, I will tell Mother of this entire debacle, is that clear?"

Sansa nodded and left the room, shutting the door behind her with a soft click. Merilyn looked at Jaime in bewilderment.

"You walked in here knowing the full story." She accused.

He shrugged, "I didn't know Matilde gave her the information, but I had a strong feeling she was lying. So I made a few guesses."

She sat back in her chair, unable to quite sort through everything that happened, "You believed Willas, even though just this morning you were certain he did it."

"I didn't believe it until he confessed something to me and we discussed it."

"What did he say?"

Jaime smirked again, "You, my darling, cannot know. He swore me to confidence. And the confidence between soldiers is more sacred than anything we share."

She raised one eyebrow, mimicking one of his often used facial expressions, "So you're saying you'd rather sleep in Willas's bed?"

Jaime chuckled lowly and stood to crouch over her, "I think he might be more welcoming than you are right now."

She smirked, "Well, in that case, you have my absolute blessing to join him."

"Whatever did I do to get such a nag of a wife?" He whispered and then kissed her open mouth before she could respond.

She laughed into the kiss and deepened it, enjoying the affection. At that moment, she recalled what Sansa had said about her being miserable and without children the rest of her life. She had never thought that Jaime and she would be end all be all lovers. Early on, she had wished to have a marriage like that of her parents. Now, part of her realized, no marriage is like any other marriage. She was happy many moments out of the day. That was enough, wasn't it?

She felt Jaime unlacing her dress and pushed her thoughts aside. She stopped his hands on her dress, and returned his focus to their kissing. Her hands slipped down and into his pants where she stroked him until he grew hard and his breathing came short and heavy. Feeling adventurous, she slipped him out of his pants and moved down his body until she knelt on the ground. She felt scarcely able to breathe, but she straightened her shoulders and opened her mouth. She let out a warm breath across his penis and felt the new presence of his hand on her hair. She leaned forward and licked him across the top. His grip on her hair tightened and smiling quickly, she enveloped him fully. Luckily, the same hand wrapped in her hair also helped her develop a rhythm. She felt her mouth opened to its widest and still felt like there was no room. The hand dictating her motions sped up slightly and she felt brave enough to explore with her tongue. The noises Jaime was making were becoming more and more guttural.

Suddenly, the hand in her hair moved to her shoulder and she was yanked up. Fast enough to make her head whirl, he hand moved her to lean against the table and had pulled her dress up. His mouth was at her neck and his right hand had wrapped around her front and was now to stroking her clit. His knee pushed her legs apart and as if some instinct suddenly came forward, Merilyn arched her back. They groaned simultaneously as he entered. For a moment, Jaime didn't move anything except the two fingers that were pressing hard on her, driving her insane.

"Jaime," she gritted through clenched teeth, "move. Now."

He let out a breathy laugh and began a slow motion. He pulled out so close to all the way, she almost began to whimper. As she started to protest, he slammed back in, changing her complaint to a load shriek. He repeated it again, and she gripped the table tightly, enjoying the feel of this. His fingers moved at a furious pace and she was trying to feel both his fingers on her and himself inside her. Her tightening stomach signaled her end was coming quickly. She whimpered loudly. He bit her neck harshly in response and she felt her high peak. She groaned and stilled her squirming, letting her orgasm ride through her. He came quickly after with less noise than she had made. They stood panting at the table, both glowing with the elation of sex.

At a knock on the door sounded, she jumped and straightened her dress and combing messily through her hair. Jaime righted himself and took a deep breath. He smirked at her and then addressed the door.

"Enter."

Leila opened the door and curtsied, "My lord, forgive the intrusion. I merely meant to check to see if my lady required anything else."

He looked at her questioningly and she shook her head.

"No," she could hear her shaky answer ringing in her ears, "I'm fine, thank you, Leila. You may retire."

The maid nodded and left the room. Merilyn looked back at Jaime and smiled. His eyes softened for the briefest moment.

"You always surprise me."