Author's Note:

I had originally intended for this to be the final part to this story, but the more I wrote it the more it seemed it needed to be split into three pieces. I hope you don't mind. :) Thank you for the reviews, keep them coming!

When the next chapter is posted the rating on this story will change to M, so keep that in mind in your filter search.

Enjoy!

Rating: Strong T

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Tywin can't breathe. The rage coursing through him will be the fuel for the marathon of fury he is about to share with all of the lowlifes that have let Sansa's torture go on. Almost running down the cold, hallow, stone hall it dawns on him - why is he so angry at this? The Stark girl may be the key to the North, but the disdain he's feeling is too much for someone hurting a potential political pawn.

Tywin stops suddenly, catching his breath and thinks.

Sansa Stark is the key to the North. She is beautiful. She is smart. She is in his bed. She is in his bed and no one knows she's there. She is a beautiful woman that is in his bed. A beautiful woman that he could kiss and -

'Easy there old man, you need your head clear.'

Rubbing his face with his hand he remembers that Lady Margarey is set to be Queen now. Which leaves Sansa without husband and the North unsecured by the Lannisters. The only reputable suitor Sansa may have had would have been Tyrion - but they cannot marry.

Any chance of a future heir being stunted like Tyrion wouldn't do. No, it wouldn't do well for the Lannister name to have two monsters at all. Then that only leaves Tywin.

Tywin will marry Sansa - he can protect her from Joffrey and secure the North. As well as get an heir, but that thought can be gone into more detail at a later time. For now, he needs to find out how long his future bride has had to endure these atrocities.

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Sansa awoke in bed and it took her a moment to remember where she was. When it all came flooding back to her, her surprise didn't lie in the fact that Joffrey was being Joffrey and tormenting her. It didn't even lie in that someone thought what he was doing was wrong.

No, her surprise was that Tywin Lannister saved her.

Now it would have been one thing to save her and hand her off to her maidens or a Maester, but he took care of her himself. Though she hadn't had many conversations with Tywin, she knew by reputation that he was not an emotional man, nor was he overly warm or gentle.

But those were the very things he had been with her. The sensible part of Sansa knows that he wants her to marry into the Lannister family so they can secure the North. She also knows that Tywin Lannister can get anyone to do anything and for him to stay with her said something all on its own.

She tries to roll onto her side, but her body erupts in pain and reminds her of her limitations for the foreseeable future. The muscle aches, the pain in going from sitting to rising or rising to sitting, the fake smile always plastered on - it all got a bit overwhelming at times. She supposed that having the time to rest was a blessing despite how she got here. Or so she was trying to tell herself.

Sansa wonders if once she's healed some if Tywin will send her away and not be around her anymore - their paths never crossed much before. She hopes not, his kindness has been refreshing and he was quite attractive when he was able to be human.

A knock at the door puts her nerves on end. The guards wouldn't have allowed anyone but Tywin, right?

The door cracks open,

"Sansa?"

Tywin's voice calms her instantly,

"Come in."

He enters the room and closes the door behind him. He seems flustered in some way, as though he's just completed a major feat of some kind. He makes his way to her bedside,

"How are you feeling?"

She tries to sit up, but gives up. Her arms are weak and her body too injured. Tywin leans in and helps as he's done before and she mutters a 'thank you' beneath her breath,

"I feel sore. It hurts to move too much too fast."

"You've had quite the amount of grievous pain here recently. And it seems its been happening on more than one occasion."

He sits at the chair by her bedside and continues,

"Tell me, did Joffrey order all of it?"

She's quiet and only barely looking at him. She just now realizes how blue his eyes really are and how easy it would be to get lost in them. Tywin looks her over and can tell Sansa is scared to answer. He imagines that it will take more than one day for her to believe she can trust him. He tries his hand at patience towards the woman, then speaks again,

"Sansa. I know it's difficult to trust someone right now, but please know I will not do any harm to you. All I ask is for honesty."

She nods at his words,

"I don't know who ordered all of it. Yes, I am sure Joffrey did but that's not to say Cersei didn't either. In truth, the only thing I know is that people repeatedly hurt me and it causes joy for those who don't like me. For those who think I am a traitor because my father was. For those who care nothing about me but just want to see me put to death."

Her voice is strong for the most part, but shakes at the end. Tywin admires her focus on appearing strong in front of him - despite the fact he just helped her sit up in bed. He thinks it may be a bad idea to say what he's about to, but he feels more strongly that she deserves to know,

"Well, you're right about Joffrey. He had certain members of his guard around just for inflicting pain on you for his enjoyment. They have since been put to death. Cersei, though she claims she never encouraged Joffrey, she also knew and never stopped him. I obviously cannot put her to death so there is still work be done in regards to that. No one within these walls will hurt you without dying immediately thereafter. I can promise you that."

He gives her a moment to take in what he's said - and she smiles. A true, wide, happy smile. It's the first time he's ever seen Sansa smile with meaning and it's also the first time she made his heart flutter. Tywin smiles back at her and in a flash she has gotten out of bed, making Tywin rise, and she is hugging him,

"Thank you, thank you, thank you. I don't know how else to say thank you."

She's tripping over her words and she can barely hold herself up - but her appreciation is genuine and even Tywin can feel that. Running his hands up and down her back while she clings to him from joy,

"Well, lets get you back in bed so I can go over a few more things with you."

Tywin almost dances with her and he walks her backward and sits her on the bed while he sits beside her,

"Sansa, you know you have to be married. And you know you need to be married to a Lannister. Tyrion would not make a good enough suitor and everybody else is too stupid to treat you properly."

It's not lost on her where he's going with this - Tywin is going to say he thinks they should marry.

"What is your suggestion Tywin?"

"I think it would be best if we married. The Lannisters would secure the North and the heirs we would have would be able to continue the family name, including at Winterfell. We would wait until you've healed, of course."

This was the moment when Sansa was supposed to say something but she didn't know what that would be. He was considerate enough to put her healing above their marriage and they were far worse suitors out there for her. If Sansa had to tell you why she trusted this man - she couldn't give you an answer. Something in her just told her to let go and believe that he would be the best for her. After-all, he hasn't let her down yet,

"It would be an honor marry you Tywin."

He smiles a genuine smile and nods,

"It will be done once you've healed. We can arrange things until then. Now, there is something else as well."

He puts his arm around her and pulls her in close. This wasn't going to be the fun conversation so he wanted her to know that he wasn't mad at her - just concerned. She leans into the warmth of his chest and waits for him,

"You have grown quite thin in your time here. I've spoken your handmaidens and they tell me you are eating very little, if at all. Yet they also say you have never had a complaint about the food,"

Sansa almost burrows her head into his chest further - not wanting to have this conversation at all - and refuses to look at him or even respond. Tywin leans close to her ear as he says,

"What's going on, hmm?"

She knows it's a serious conversation and she knows she should be focusing on what he's asking her, but his hot breath on her ear like that and how good it felt was all Sansa could think about. This man, the most regal of the Lannisters, is holding her and whispering into her ear and that's all that matters.

"Sansa? Look at me."

Sansa pulls away from Tywin and he cups her face with his hand,

"What's going on? Why aren't you eating?"

It is unnerving how calm and patient he is with her. For the first time, Sansa feels that someone truly cares and doesn't just see her as some 'Stark girl'. That doesn't, however, make the words any easier to say,

"Eating is the only thing I'm in control of. I may not get to decide when dinner is or what dinner is or who attends and so on. But I get to decide how much I consume and how much space I take up. As things around here got worse I wanted to disappear. I didn't even want to go back home at that point I just wanted to go away and not been seen by anyone. And it appeared that starving was the easiest way to do that without being noticed. Or so I thought. I never thought someone would truly care enough to notice."

In all of his years Tywin had never seen a woman so strong yet so tortured and twisted by what others had done. Instead of lashing out, she lashed inward, and destroyed herself without bringing any attention. She knew the game and what's more is that she knew how to play it. The smiles, the curtsies, the game of politics - Sansa knew it all. Had he not seen her in her small clothes Tywin wouldn't have suspected anything, in the same way no one else would have.

It was more than wanting to marry her. It was more than wanting heirs with her. It was his concern for her general well-being that turned his stomach with worry that he hadn't felt in years. If it were anybody else Tywin wold resume his usual methods of shouting and barking and so forth. Sansa, however, needed gentleness and she needed patience - which were things he could give. Still cupping her face in his palm,

"I care. I care about you and I care about our future together. I cannot lose you Sansa. You're intelligent and beautiful and strong and I need you. Tell me what it is you need to stop this disappearing act and it will be done."

Sansa took a breath, adoring how her head felt in the palm of his hand. She leaned into it and Tywin traces her cheek with his thumb. HIs hands are almost ironically soft for the life he leads and she loves knowing this and feeling this. It seems so surreal and yet so wonderful all at the same time,

"I need to feel safe Tywin and I'm afraid I'll never feel safe at King's Landing."

He takes his hand away from her face and holds her hand instead. She spoke the words softly but it doesn't take away the fact that her fear is very real. It also doesn't take away the fact that he's been ignoring her reality for far too long.

"We will let you heal and then we will marry. Once we've married, we will go to Casterly Rock where I believe you will feel far safer. In the meantime, I will assign guards to you. I will pick the men to protect you and they will be with you day and night. Sansa, do you feel safe with me?"

Tywin had a surprising idea but he needed to know how Sansa felt first,

"Yes I do. I know I can't explain why but when you're with me I feel safe and I feel protected."

She had no idea where he was going with this - Sansa was just hoping he would take her with him wherever it lead,

"Well, if you feel safe with me would you be willing to eat with me? If perhaps you now have a reason for not wanting to disappear, that is."

It sounds too easy, too simple. It couldn't be that simple. Could it?

"I can't make any promises but I would be willing to try."

Sansa is overwhelmed with emotion and it shows in her voice - which cracks on her last few words. She hugs him and he hugs her back - but she scares him. Holding her like this Tywin can truly feel how frail she has become and he doesn't like it. There's barely any meat to her and it hurts his heart. He needs to tell the chefs to add some desserts to her meals, lemon cakes especially.

He pulls back from their hug - just enough to look into her eyes - and in her eyes he finds hope. It warms him and makes him smirk ever so slightly.

Tywin leans in to give her a kiss and Sansa accepts eagerly. This kiss goes deeper than their last one as Sansa lets go of his hands and runs her fingers through his hair. He groans into her mouth and slowly pulls her closer to him, his hands gently sliding down her back. She wraps her arms around him and completely pulls him into her chest, her breasts rubbing against him and he breaks the kiss and trails his mouth down to her neck, kissing and biting all the way.

Tywin wants to lie her down and hold her and keep kissing her and exploring her. But in the back of his mind he knows she's not ready for that and he won't put her into a position she wouldn't approve of. Joffrey has done far too much of that already.

Sansa's head rolls back giving Tywin more access to her neck and she hears herself moan - what he was doing just felt too good to stay quiet. He chuckles against her neck, hands sliding down her back, supporting her as she arches into him silently begging for more.

She tries to pull him to her to get him to lie down on top of her so they can continue - but he doesn't budge. Instead Tywin pulls her into him once again and takes her mouth in a fiery kiss that leaves both of them stealing breath from the other. Her mouth is tender and wanting and it's everything and more for Tywin.

After a few moments he breaks their kiss and holds her close. They're each out of breath and wanting more but now is not the time. Tywin feels himself slipping, he feels himself beginning to truly develop feelings for Sansa and he can't quite tell if that's a good thing or not. But what he does know is that he doesn't want it to stop. He wants this passion between them to last for as long as possible and Tywin will do whatever means nessceary to make that happen,

"I need to check your bandages and I also have milk of the poppy for you."

Sansa nods, recognizing that he's thought of everything. He changes her bandages and does so tenderly but she still winces at the application of the salve. Tywin gets her back to a comfortable position in bed,

"You rest and when I return, we'll eat. Alright?"

"Alright."

The mood is light and calm - a refreshing pace for the lion that seemingly always roars. Sansa continues,

"Thank you Tywin. For everything."

He leans in smiling and kisses her tenderly then walks to the door, stopping with his hand on the handle,

"I'll return shortly my little wolf."

Tywin leaves and Sansa closes her eyes in bed - feeling like a real person for the first time in a long time.

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There will be a part three! Please review!