Back with another chapter and this one is even more dramatic than the previous chapter!
The club was in full swing as usual when Jon arrived with Dany. They waited in line as the queue took forever to shorten.
"Don't you know the owner or something?" Dany asked as she shivered.
It had since stopped snowing and it was starting to become typical British weather with the rain and the cold. Especially at eleven o'clock at night.
"I do but it's been a while since I last saw him. It was at the funeral."
Dany nodded and pursed her lips instead as they waited for the line to get shorter and shorter.
When they finally reached the front, the bouncer raised his eyebrow at him.
"The prodigal bachelor has returned," he said, glancing at his list. "Today is reservation only and I don't see your name. But you know what? Go on in, boy. I'm sure Baratheon would let you in, anyway. It's good to see you."
"And you, Sandor. She's with me," Jon replied as he pointed behind him.
Sandor stood aside and let them both in.
The club was even louder than before and blue light was flashing everywhere. To be honest, it wasn't really Jon's scene anymore.
He had been a frequent partier during his Medicine degree so relieve the stress that he was hell-bent on putting on himself. But back then, he had his brother, Robb and his ex-girlfriend Ygritte so they made partying even more worthwhile. Especially when Jon would wingman for Robb. He ended up not even needing to one night when Robb met Jeyne Westerling.
Jeyne had been Robb's first proper lover. She was beautiful with eyes that could put anyone into a trance. They had hit it off in the club before deciding to call it night so that they could talk some more. That had led to a relationship of one and a half years which was cut abruptly after her parents decided to arrange a marriage for her. She then committed suicide in defiance.
The following year after his bereavement, Robb fell in love again whilst he was doing shopping for dinner. Jon and Robb had lived together then so they took turns on who did the weekly shop. A person had collapsed and Robb had saved the person's life alongside the beautiful and exotic Talisa Maegyr. She was a nurse in training and they ended up spending more and more time together with Robb ultimately proposing only six months later.
Now, they were both dead.
"Place brings back sad memories..." Jon shouted over to Dany who was looking at him in concern.
She nodded and gave him a sad smile before patting his shoulder and gesturing for them to get a drink.
Jon sighed as they fount bar stools beside each other and ordered their drinks.
Going clubbing without your big brother just didn't bring the spark back. Jon was thankful for the endless walking to different pubs whilst he was grieving. He still was but he had to be strong for the remaining of their small family.
When the bartender brought their drinks, Jon eagerly took a large gulp of his, making Dany smile at him.
"Slow down, White Wolf!"
Jon stopped, a frown playing on his lips.
"What did you call me?"
"White wolf. Why? What's wrong?"
"Robb used to call me that. Because my Siberian husky, Ghost, is snow white in colour. When we were kids, we used to pretend that we were little wolves. Stupid, really but we were so close. Until he got married and I met Sam who became my drinking buddy instead. We drifted apart but we never missed the chance to grab a drink at the pub every Saturday night if we could or after a long day at work..."
Dany sighed, placing a hand on his back. "I'm sorry. I won't call you that any-"
"Please do. It gives me fond memories. Don't worry," he smiled at her and turned around to see people dancing. "Shall we dance after?"
"I can't dance to save my life!" Daenerys cried out. "How about I just watch you, yeah?"
Jon chuckled and turned back around to meet Ygritte's eyes.
She was sitting in the VIP section, slowly sipping on what must be rum and Coke. She always went for that.
Ygritte blinked slowly, her red lips settling into a frown as she stood up. Jon prayed that she wouldn't make her way over but she was already getting Clegane Number One, Gregor, to open up the red rope to let her out.
"Do you know her?"
Jon scoffed, downing his drink. "Know her? That's psycho ex-girlfriend number one. Because I have only one psycho ex. Just wish you don't meet her father. He's more psychotic than you would get."
Dany raised her eyebrows and quickly downed her own drink just as Ygritte arrived at their table.
"Jonny."
"Ygritte, hey."
Ygritte smiled at him before turning to Dany with her hand outstretched.
"I'm Ygritte. You must be Jonny boy's new love."
Dany blushed and was thankful when Jon saved her.
"Is there something you wanted, Ygritte?"
The Irishwoman nodded and hopped on the bar to take a seat between Jon and Daenerys, crossing her leg over the other.
"I should warn you," she drawled out, clicking her finger for the bartender to hand her a rum and Coke which she sipped on as soon as she got it.
"Warn me about what?" Jon asked, sighing. He rested his head on his hand and waited until she got off and left them to their peace. But he had to humour her unless she would outstay her welcome even longer.
"Sansa's going to do something that she would regret. I won't tell you, she will but when she does... Don't hate her, please. I've done some bad stuff in my life and wouldn't let anyone I know to go through that as well. Sansa wants to do what she thinks it right. Just protect her."
She hopped off and landed perfectly on her stilettos before going back to the VIP section.
Jon had desperately wanted to get his mind off of his family for one damn night but throughout his duration there, his mind kept wandering off to the ginger-haired sister of his.
...
The next night, Sansa stood, waiting in her little black dress, silver jewellery and silver heels. She had put on a black blazer but as soon as she stepped out the front door, she felt stupid.
She had no coat.
And she was too awkward to go back in and look stupid in front of Bran and Osha who she'd left watching a movie.
They had already asked too many questions- well, Osha had-, whether she was going on a date or a girls' night out and she had just said it was a work thing at the pub. It wasn't a lie technically as tonight she would have normally worked.
She saw a black Mercedes pull up and the window slid down.
As soon as she stepped closer to see the man, she immediately recognised him. She just hoped he didn't recognise her.
"Alayne?"
"Tyrion."
She heard a click and she stepped off the pavement to open the door and get in.
"Nice to meet you," Tyrion said, shaking her hand.
"And you," she smiled, shutting the door.
She was nervous. He could tell. She didn't let it show though but he guessed it as she was new.
"So, how does this work? Do you just want to talk or should we take this somewhere more private?" She asked.
Hold the upper hand, don't let him sense your fear.
"We don't have to... Just talking, please."
Sansa nodded and he drove off. It was ten minutes later when she realised that they were aimlessly driving around.
The silence suddenly became too unbearable.
"So," Sansa started. "What do you do?"
Tyrion turned to face her at a red light. He was surprised that she even spoke. He wasn't expecting it.
"I am a lawyer. I realised that I could argue my way out of things when I was five and broke into my father's study. He was impressed and paid for the best tutors money could buy."
Sansa smiled. His father sounded like how hers had been. Always willing to sacrifice for the next generation.
All of Eddard Stark's children had gone through private tutoring, schooling and even extra-curricular activities. Sansa had gone to clubs such as Netball and Ballet although she'd hated Ballet. Arya had Fencing, horse-riding and dancing. Bran had his chess club and Historical forums. Rickon had his martial arts. Robb had rugby and Jon had football. They had been a very active family both intellectually and physically.
"That is a great job. Someone I used to know had been a lawyer. She was a very good one..."
Tyrion continued before pulling up to the side of the road.
"What are your dreams? I'm sure that they aren't entertaining old men."
Sansa shook her head 'no'. "I wanted to be a model and now I'm living the dream. I'm still an amateur but I am a model."
"Good for you."
"I wouldn't call you 'old', you know," she told him. "You're middle-aged. Forty, I'm guessing."
Tyrion laughed. "I'll take that as a compliment, Alayne. And if you asked a woman how old she was, she'd probably stab you with her high heels."
"How old do you think I look?" Sansa asked him.
"Old enough to make your own decisions, bad or not. But people learn from their mistakes."
Sansa glanced down. "Hmm."
"Do you have a family, Sansa?"
She nodded. She didn't elaborate on the subject. Was she supposed to? Were they meant to get to know every little detail about each other?
"So, who tucks you in at night? Mum or Dad?" Tyrion asked her jokingly.
"Neither. I-I live alone. I don't have parents. Just two brothers and a sister."
Tyrion raised his eyebrows. "Oh. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have-"
"No, it's fine. They've been dead for a long while now. The pain's still there but not so prominent that I can't live a life."
She finally met his eyes and she smiled at him. He was nice. Not quite what she'd expected. Not the average height, build or anything but she honestly couldn't believe that his wife could cheat on him.
"What was she like? Your wife. If you don't mind me asking."
Tyrion sighed. "She was wonderful. She was an undercover policewoman who I met through my brother's partner, Superintendent Brienne Tarth. We had been apart for a year whilst she was on an undercover mission and when she came back, she had changed. She was completely different. She became obsessive, broody and erratic. She suddenly wanted children when we both knew that we couldn't have any. And whenever I suggested adoption instead, she would kickstart an argument about how useless I was to her. We had our good days and our bad..."
"How did she come to sleep with your dad?"
"A million arguments after, she told me that she would get a child from me either by me or someone else. I immediately called my brother to ask if Shae had been to see him, he said that she hadn't. So, I called our cousin, Lancel. He too did not hear anything from her. But by then, it was too late. I stopped by father's for a nightcap with the old man and found them in bed together. I left immediately and she came home to pack her things. I don't know where she went but she wasn't with my father."
Sansa looked down. "I'm so sorry."
She felt a soft pat on her knee before the touch was gone and her knee became cold.
"It's not your fault. My father was right. Shae was trouble from the first time I saw her. But that was why I loved her, because of all her issues amounted to all of mine. Brought up in single-parent families, worked hard to get away from them only to be sucked back in... Lived lives of lies..."
Sansa gently placed her palm on his cheek and took a deep breath. She leant in and their lips touched ever so softly.
He immediately pulled away.
Shit! You... stupid girl, she thought. Why had she done that? She was meant to make him feel better, right? Was she right in kissing him?
"I-I think that you should go home, now," Tyrion said. "It's past ten,"
"But-"
"Go home, Sansa."
Her eyes widened. Her heart began to beat loudly in her ears.
Fuck, shit, crap!
"Yes, I know who you are. Cersei told us about the tragedy that happened to your family."
"Were you testing me? Did Ygritte put you up to this?" Fear had disappeared and anger and humiliation had arisen.
Tyrion sighed. "She wants to keep you safe. So does your brother. She told me to look out for someone who may contact me. I didn't recognise you at first but when you spoke of your siblings... Your parents were good people, Sansa. Don't taint their memory."
"What do you know about their memory?! What do you even know about me?! You don't know me!"
She forced the door opened and got out before slamming it shut. She heard the window slide down but she didn't care as she stormed in front of the car and onto the road to cross to the other side to get home.
But what she didn't see were the flashing, blinking lights.
But she did hear the horns before it all went silent.
...
Jon smiled when he watched Arya step out of her room and join him on the sofa.
"Hey, did you and Sansa have a chance to speak yesterday? Or have you been catching up on revising?"
Arya shrugged and cuddled up to him, making him lift his arm and wrap her up.
"Shall we go and get a blanket? Ask Bran to join us?"
She nodded and stood up to get a couple of blankets as Jon went to retrieve their younger brother.
A couple of minutes later, the three were comfortably snuggled up on the couch watching a Doctor Who boxset which was Arya's favourite.
Jon had wanted Arya to feel special for the next couple of days rather than worrying about Bran so Sansa had luckily forked out to hire Osha for a while as they got back into their routine.
Once Bran had fallen asleep, Jon had taken the chance to get Arya to open up and he hoped that it worked.
"So, can we talk about that time we almost drowned?" He chuckled lightly. "I mean, I'm not a strong swimmer. I hate swimming. Especially since they practically forced you to during secondary school although, I don't think I've swum since Robb and I went to Ibiza for his crazy stag do..."
"Jon? I love you but shut up. Your small talk skills need work."
Jon grinned. "There we go. What will make you happy, Arry?"
"Right now? Just being here in your arms," she replied quietly. "But in the future? I'd like to go back to my Fencing lessons and possibly get a new phone for my birthday since I've damaged mine with freezing water."
"I'll get you whatever you want. So will Sansa. Because we love you. Hey, I'll even try saving up for the latest phone if you'd like. Only if you can hold out a little longer but we'll-"
"Jon?"
"Yes?"
"Just my family is enough for me actually. You guys matter more than snow, fencing, horse-riding and the latest phone although I am not completely declining your offer."
Jon laughed and kissed the side of her head lovingly as he ran his fingers through Bran's hair.
"You will tell us if you're unhappy or are thinking dark thoughts, right? Anything, just tell us and we will be there for you or find you the help you need. Don't run off or jump into rivers."
Arya glanced up at him through her lashes and nodded, placing a kiss on his cheek before leaning her head on his chest.
It was a while before the three were woken up by the sound of Jon's phone ringing.
He grunted, gently coaxing his brother and sister off his chest before grabbing it from the coffee table.
"Hello?" He groaned, rubbing his face tiredly.
"J-Jon?"
"Please don't tell me that I'm needed at the hospital, Sam. I swear to God that I'm still tired and hungover from last night."
"No, Jon... It's Sansa. She's just been brought in. She... She was hit by a car, Jon."
That is when the phone dropped.