Sansa smiled to herself as her phone beeped with texts. Breakfast first, love affairs after.
"Good morning!" She chirped to Dany as the blonde looked up, eyebrows raised.
"It's actually good afternoon but I'll let you off since I woke up at twelve myself." Dany chuckled before yawning. "I've made some bacon, eggs and sausages if you want some?"
Sansa smiled widely. "Oh, I do! Being a model is honestly without its perks. I missed the beef and the pork-"
"And you're drooling all over my food," Dany cut her off with a smile. "Serve yourself and grab a seat."
Sansa headed to the stove and collected a plate before piling on the food on top of it. She grabbed the bottle of ketchup from the cupboard and joined Daenerys at the dining table.
"It smells amazing!"
"Thanks," Dany smiled. "What's got you feeling on cloud nine?"
Sansa blushed. "Loras and I... Let's just say I might be scoring myself a boyfriend."
"You go, girl!" Dany grinned.
They continued to eat in silence, occasionally checking their phones and answering texts and emails.
"How's your eye?" Sansa suddenly asked. "I know I was out of it last night but seeing it just now... it seems to have gone down."
Dany pressed a finger to her bruise then, to her cut which seemed smaller than before.
"It hurts a little but it's better than when it happened. Thanks for asking," she smiled softly.
Sansa nodded and continued to eat. She looked around the small flat and noticed many family photos which she was surprised that she hadn't noticed since coming to stay.
"Your granddad?" She asked, gesturing to a photo on the wall where Dany stood beside an elderly man who grinned a toothless grin.
Dany chuckled. "No, my great-uncle Egg."
"His parents named him 'Egg'?"
"No!" Dany laughed. "His real name is Aemon but 'Egg' was his older brother's nickname whose name was Aegon but my uncle... he has dementia and well, he thinks he's my granddad. I haven't the heart to tell him his real name since he's far too gone but it brings back fond memories for us. He'll tell me stories of him and my granddad before he forgets he even tells me them from a previous visit. Great-Uncle Aemon is a lovely old gentleman with the heart of gold. He sometimes gave money to Viserys and me after our parents and our older brother died. We'd always give it back but lately, Viserys has been taking more than he should. To humour his drug habit." Dany's voice began to shake as she continued. "He sometimes cried that he was too old and sick to be there for us... He loved-"
"If this is making you upset, you don't have to continue," Sansa cut her off gently.
Dany shook her head. "No. It's nice to finally have someone to talk to who isn't sleeping with me, arguing with me or forgetting who I am."
Sansa hesitated. "Are you sure? We barely know each other-"
"I let you stay in my home, didn't I?" Dany gave a watery smirk. "And I'm technically dating your brother. I'd say we know each other as much as we want to right now. And now, you'll know a bit more about me."
Sansa reached over the table and patted Dany's hand gently before returning her hand back to her side.
"Okay, tell me more."
"Uncle Egg-Aemon... He loved to read. When he lost his sight before he had dementia, he'd lament that he had a library full of beautiful books that he was no longer able to read. My older brother, Rhaegar, read them to him after before he died. Anyway, he was a great man and still is."
Sansa smiled softly as she took the blonde's words in. She too had fond memories of her father's brothers playing with her and her siblings when they were little. Unfortunately, her aunt had died shortly after Jon had been born so she and her younger siblings had never met Lyanna but had seen photographs of the brunette beauty.
"He sounded amazing."
Dany smiled. "He was. He really was. I guess I should tell you about my brother..."
Sansa frowned. "You don't have to. Especially since it's still raw and he did hit you."
"I'll survive. I've been through worse when it comes to him." Dany smiled. "He started using drugs soon after our brother died when we were seventeen. He used to be a solid A-star student before Rhaegar's death completely destroyed him and our relationship. He got into the wrong crowd and there was a couple of years when we didn't even contact each other."
"I know how I feel after a couple of days not speaking with Jon. I don't know how I would have survived a couple of years on no speaking terms. That's the best thing about my family. We were always a tight-knit unit. I'd speak with my older brothers all the time as well as my younger siblings..." Sansa said softly. "I'm sorry-"
Dany waved her hand dismissively as she took a sip of her cup of tea. She watched as Sansa did the same.
"You know the picture on the fridge?" She asked Sansa.
Sansa turned around to face the fridge where a small back and white photo was stuck on it. Again, she was surprised that she'd never noticed it.
"T-That's you, a guy and a baby?"
"Yeah. Got myself in a bit of trouble when I was nineteen. Fell in love, got married, got pregnant... then it all fell apart. Our baby died from meningitis and our marriage became strained. On top of that, Viserys came back asking for money we didn't have and got into trouble with some drug dealers. My husband went to bail him out but..." She took a sharp intake of breath. "He ended up getting beaten to death by Viserys' so-called friends."
Sansa gasped. "Oh my God... I'm so sorry. And here I was, feeling sorry for myself."
"Grief is grief, Sansa," Dany mumbled. "Murder... Suicide... Accidental... It all still leaves people grieving. You can't compare my grief to yours."
Sansa sniffled, wiping tears from her eyes as she shakily replied, "But you lost your husband and your baby and you were younger than I am now." She swallowed deeply. "And you even lost both of your parents by the time you turned into a teenager."
Dany nodded. "It doesn't matter how old you are when you lose your parents and become an orphan. It still hurts at the end of the day."
"I have a question. Why do you still care for your brother after he was the reason your husband died?"
"Because apart from our uncle, he's the only one I have left."
Sansa stood up and brought Daenerys in for a tight hug. It was long before they broke apart, tears streaming down their cheeks as they giggled.
"I've got ice cream in the freezer."
Sansa grinned. "And I saw that you have a Doctor Who boxset."
"Well, let's get this ladies' night started." Daenerys chuckled.
...
As Jon sipped on his cup of tea, watching as Arya and Bran spent time with Jojen and Meera.
Arya had gone back to school at the start of the new week and she had invited the siblings over after their father had called to give his approval.
He didn't know how he'd break the news to them of his decision but he knew that he had to speak to Sansa first as she was the first sole beneficiary of the inheritance. Unless he changed his name.
"He's getting better isn't he?" Meera asked, making him jump.
Wasn't she just in the living room with the other three?
"Yeah," Jon replied. "Do you want some more juice or water?"
Meera smiled, shaking her head. "When is he starting physiotherapy? Does he even want to do it?"
"Well, we've been taking him out on short trips to prevent cabin fever but I've spoken to my colleague and he says that it's possible for a recovery but it will take a long while. The damage to his spine is great but there are some trial treatments abroad that we could opt for. But they cost a lot of money which we don't have access to right now."
Meera nodded, pursing her lips and she pondered on the thought. "My father has access to the Stark side of the firm. It was to be released to Sansa if she became a partner. If she becomes a partner now, my dad can get the funds prepared for any treatment that Bran needs."
"What's happening to the money now?"
"He's using it to further the firm. If I was you, I'd call Sansa up right now and send Bran on the first flight out of here."
Jon nodded and left the kitchen to go to his room.
They would be okay for a couple of minutes.
He took his phone from its charger and scrolled through his contacts until he reached Sansa's name. He paused on it, contemplating on whether to call her or not. It had been four days since he had last spoken to her.
With Arya's birthday on Friday, he knew that he had to make things right and talk things through. Try to understand her. As best as he could.
Finally, he pressed her name and placed his phone on his ear, the dial tone immediately starting.
It was picked up after five rings.
"Jon!"
"Sansa. Hi."
He heard her take an intake of breath. "H-How have you been? How's Arya and Bran? Is everything okay at home? Is Bran sick-"
"Everything is fine." He cut her off. "I just wanted to know how you were doing."
"I'm fine. You?"
"Well, a lot has happened since you've been away." He winced at his choice of wording. "Since I told you to..."
"Jon, it's fine."
He nodded. "Okay. Can we talk? Tomorrow?"
"If I tell you where I am, promise me that you won't be mad."
"Are you at t-the guy's-"
"No! God, no! As you said, we need to talk. Meet me tomorrow after you've dropped Arry at school. I'm at D-Daenerys' place."
"Dany's?"
Before he could say anything else, she hung up. He stared at his phone in shock confusion as he wondered if he'd heard right.
But they hated each other.
They had called each other 'witch' and 'bitch'.
He guessed he'd find out the whole story when they met tomorrow.
...
Dany gave Sansa a supportive hug as she grabbed her bag.
"If all hell kicks off, call me."
"I'll be fine," Sansa chuckled. "It's just Jon. He fights with his words, not his fists. And I'm a girl, he'd never hit a girl."
"I've met his ex-girlfriend-"
"Now, that's someone he'd make an exception for. She told me about their relationship. They fought a lot which is weird because Jon's such a sweetheart, he'd never physically hit a woman let alone anyone. But then she began to talk about their angry sex life and I tuned out."
Dany's eyes widened. "Oh. He's into that?"
"How would I know?" Sansa frowned. "I hope not. Sounds..."
"Disturbing? Especially when it's my sort-of boyfriend? Yeah. I should go. I don't want to be late for my uncle."
After she had left, Sansa began to clean up a little as she randomly answered texts from Loras. She had declined a breakfast date to meet up with Jon instead but had promised to rearrange as soon as possible.
It was about thirty minutes later when she answered the door and let her brother in before shutting the door closed.
"Hey." She smiled, gesturing for him to sit down. "Do you want something to drink or eat?"
"No, I'm fine."
"Okay," she said as she handed him an envelope. "Before we start, this is five thousand pounds in cash. It's for Bran. A-And Arya. Oh, and her teacher called to say that they will return to her lessons on Wednesdays and Thursdays at four."
Jon frowned at the envelope. "What did you do to get this?"
"Nothing. I was just being a friend."
"A friend, hmm?"
"Yes! Honestly. Take it. With it, we'll make sure that they have the best upbringing we can give them."
Jon put the money into his inside pocket. "About that... How would you feel if I became a Stark? Formally."
"Wow. That's a big decision. Why? I thought you wanted to stay close to your mum?"
"I do. I did. But... There's no point looking for her. And there is an ulterior motive."
Sansa frowned. "What?"
"Winterfell Manor's mine, if I change my surname. It's Bran's if I don't but only if dad's brothers cannot claim it. And from what I know, Uncle Benjen definitely doesn't want to claim it."
She gasped. "Oh my God! I totally forgot about that! I remember speaking to Dad before he died about being a Lady of the manor and he said that it was possible if I never married but you, Robb, Bran and Rickon would have to have kids so that it can remain passed down through the Stark line."
"Do you think I should change my surname and claim it?"
Sansa nodded, beaming. "Yes! Jon, this is your birthright! We can all finally get out of that stuffy flat and be home. It obviously comes with a little money, right?"
"Yeah. Not in the millions but enough to live comfortably and get three cars. I'm guessing Arya would want her own car as soon as she finds out."
Sansa laughed softly. "Jon? Do you know what this means? God's finally answering our prayers. Bran's getting better, Arya's becoming more tolerable, the manor's ours again..."
"It all comes with a price though."
"What?"
"I'd have to give my job up. I never expected to get the manor until I retired. Even then, it was meant to go to Robb and his child..."
Sansa sighed softly. "There may be a way to bypass that and keep your job."
"What do you mean?"
"You give me half of your rights and I'll overlook the manor, in your absence."
"Are you saying," Jon began. "That I should make you Lady of Winterfell Manor?"
Sansa nodded. "It's better than being called 'Miss Sansa' all the time by the side help." She smirked softly.
"Primadonna much?" Jon rolled his eyes. "I don't think we'll have as much side help as we used to have growing up. Maybe just a cook, maid and the majordomo but even then, we'll have to see. But either way, I'm not going back to the life of overprivileged posh prick ever again. If we want something done, we do it ourselves. That was the whole reason we did things like drove to school or cooked our own food when Dad and Catelyn were working."
"Oh, Jon... I'm glad we're talking again."
Jon smiled. "Me too. Sorry that I was... I just thought that I was the one who needed to do whatever it took to protect you three. I never thought you'd do such a thing. For money no less. We weren't brought up like that, to do things like that."
"I know. And I'm sorry," she mumbled. "It just felt like everything was falling apart and when we almost lost you and Arya... Something clicked inside me that just like last year, anything can happen just like that," she clicked her fingers. "I had to prepare for all sides covered. But I will never do that again. Even the guy told me not to... Said he knew Mum and Dad and they wouldn't have wanted me to go through with it. I got mad because I thought he was treating me like a child and he couldn't have known them and what they would have wanted. So, I left and got hit by a stupid car and he saved my life."
"What is his name?"
Sansa sighed. "You're going to punch him, aren't you? And here I told Dany you used your words not your fists."
Jon shook his head. "I want to thank him. For making you see sense. In a way, maybe Dad and Catelyn organised it from above. A chance meeting helps you come to your senses."
Sansa scoffed. "Okay, Mr Delusional. You were right. He was right. And somehow the ones watching from above were right."
"So, how did you and Dany become best friends?" He grinned.
"She took me in," Sansa blushed. "And she was really nice and caring and she didn't care that I literally spent all the time knowing each other hating her. She's now someone I'll probably tell all my secrets to now. I have no close friends-"
"Hey, you can't steal my sort-of girlfriend!"
Sansa smirked. "Isn't that every man's dream? Their partner being great friends with their family?"
"But not their cunning and sly sisters!" Jon retorted. "You'd pitch her against me and somehow, I'll be stuck wearing makeup and nail polish-"
"How old do you think we are?" Sansa laughed. "More or less, cocktails and strippers at all of our club outings. Hey, I can even score you guys passes in the VIP section!"
"No thanks. Clubbing's not my scene anymore."
Sansa chuckled. "Okay, Grandpa. Sure."
There was a comfortable silence between them which lasted a couple of minutes before Jon broke it.
"How're your ribs?"
"Oh, they're getting better. Dany's been really helpful with advice on how to care for them, shower and the like..." Sansa replied.
"Good. Good. I noticed you're popular. Who keeps texting you?"
Sansa glanced down at her phone with a soft smile. "A guy."
"A boyfriend?" Jon asked, raising an eyebrow. "It's been... ages since you last had one."
"He's someone you know. Well, met once. Loras. From Braavos."
"Oh, he's here?"
Sansa nodded. "He's Robert's younger brother's best friend and surprisingly, ex-boyfriend."
"Oh, how interesting. Do you like this Loras?" Jon smirked.
Sansa blushed. "I guess. He's really sweet. Not like Joffrey or... at all. He really likes me and I really like him."
"I knew it!" Jon smiled. "Ever since you kept making those stupid doe eyes at him at the café."
"I don't make stupid doe eyes!"
"It's your way of flirting and Robb and I agreed years ago. It's disturbing to watch and you need to fix it."
Sansa gently hit him but she smiled nonetheless. "Would you like to meet him, properly? I was thinking of taking Arya to the club on her birthday to see Gendry and Loras will be there. It's Renly's stag night then."
"Yeah, I'll be there." Jon smiled. "Hey, don't bother coming back to the flat. I've kind of started packing. Soon, we'll be home. Our real home."
Sansa beamed. "I can't wait."
"Oh, before I forget. Your mum's law firm with Howland Reed. You can become a partner to continue the firm's partnership with Stark. Doing so, you'd get access to Catelyn's money which is tied up in it for security purposes."
Sansa's eyes widened. "Oh my God, really? I'll get on the phone to Mr Reed as soon as possible," she smiled softly. "Maybe I should become a lawyer. Follow Mum's footsteps."
Jon took her hand and squeezed it. "Or get your Business degree and remain a model until you start up your own business or something. You were always good at fashion and makeup, you could do something with that."
"It's a really competitive scene, Jon. Even with my modelling career, it's hard to break into that trade. Wherever life takes me, I'll embrace it."
"Good. And I'll be there with you, every step of the way."
"Thanks, Jon. As I always say, you're such a good man, I'm not sure I deserve to have you as a brother even though you're my half-brother. After Mum, Dad, Robb and Rickon died... you didn't have to take us in but you did and you've done so well in looking after us as best as you could. You'd even give your birth mother's name up just to protect us even more."
Jon blushed. "The rate you're talking, you'd probably name your firstborn son after me."
"Don't give me ideas!" Sansa laughed. "But I will name my firstborn after Dad, my second after Robb and my third son, since I am becoming a total British version of a soccer mom, after you."
"No daughters?"
"If I have one, after Mum." Sansa sighed. "Promise me that you'll never leave us."
Jon kissed her forehead. "I promise. I'd be insane to leave you guys."