Sansa smiled as she watched Jon and Daenerys join her by the stairs, waiting for Arya.
"You're going to love her outfit!" She told them.
Soon after, Arya slowly made her appearance, making her way down the stairs as she tried not to trip on her new heels.
"I remember why I despise heels and love trainers!" She mumbled.
Sansa grinned. "You look beautiful! The blazer really pulls it all together!"
Jon was stunned. His little sister was officially not so little anymore. A grown up. A woman.
"I remember the day you were born-"
"Oh, God. Jon!" Arya blushed. "Exactly what Dad would have said."
Jon smiled sadly. "Happy 18th, Arya."
She finally made it downstairs, giving Jon a tight hug first before giving Sansa one too.
"I don't want to cry, I don't want any tears. Please?" She asked. "I miss them all too but they are up there watching."
Sansa nodded, wiping her tears. "Yeah," she whispered, kissing her sister's head. "I can't believe you're eighteen! Well, we don't want to be late. I'm sure Sam is waiting already."
Heading outside, Beric opened the backseat doors for Daenerys and Sansa.
"Your brother requested that you take the passenger seat, my lady." Beric smiled at Arya.
Blushing, the new adult let him open the door for her and close it after when she was settled inside. Jon joined her in the driver's seat and gave her a wink.
It was dark and it snowed lightly which made Arya smile widely. It hadn't stopped snowing in a while and she figured that the almighty forces above were listening to her wishes.
It felt like it was too soon when they arrived at the club, a valet taking Jon's car keys and Sandor letting the group enter, Sam now with them.
They were led to the VIP section, courtesy of Sansa and Arya smiled when she saw Gendry's own group in the section too.
"Jon, my boy! How are you doing?" Robert asked, waving him over.
Sansa was also distracted by Loras, going to speak with him. That left the birthday girl with her older brother's friends.
"Shall we get drinks, then?" Dany asked nervously.
Arya nodded. "Uh, vodka?"
Sam chuckled. "You have a lot to learn, little wolf." He smiled, heading to the bar to order their group drinks.
Behind him, Jon and Robert were in conversation.
"How did your meeting with the Spider go?" Robert asked.
"Well. Thanks for that. I guess everybody was right," said Jon. "I'm thinking about letting my siblings talk to him too."
Robert nodded in approval. "That's a wise choice. It's Arya's birthday, isn't it?"
Jon smiled at his brother's namesake. "Yeah, she's an adult now. I can't believe she's all grown up. I know Dad would have..." He sighed. "She told me no tears and no reminiscing."
Robert chuckled. "Still a little tyke as always. I'll let you get back to her."
Jon said 'goodbye' to him and headed to his own booth where Arya and Daenerys were sipping on cocktails and Sam had a beer.
"Got you a beer and Sansa a martini." Sam smiled at him.
"Ah, you know me well! Is it Guinness?" Jon asked.
Sam raised his eyebrow. "You know me well," he replied, making them laugh.
"How is your special day going so far?" Dany asked Arya.
"It's great. Thanks, guys." Arya beamed. Her eyes caught Gendry's and she looked away, almost blushing. "Oh, Jon? When will you and Bran plant those six trees?"
Jon smiled. "Tomorrow morning. You and Sansa can join us too."
Arya nodded. "I'd love that."
Sitting at a table away from the other groups, Sansa and Loras were holding hands.
"You look gorgeous!" Loras told her.
Sansa blushed. "I don't! It's my sister's day as well, not mine!" She chuckled.
Loras looked her over. She wore a metallic blue, tight-fitting jumpsuit with a deep V neck.
"It seems like it's your day. Are you trying to steal her thunder?" Loras joked.
"No! I don't want to. She's been through enough." Sansa sighed. "Speaking of which, I ought to get back to my table."
Loras didn't reply, looking behind her where a woman wearing a sleeveless, short orange dress was heading into the VIP section.
Sansa recognised her. "Know her?"
"Know her?" Loras asked. "I went to school with her, Geri and Renly. She was my girlfriend back then."
Sansa frowned, turning to look at her fellow model. She was stunning.
"Nymeria Sand. Her step mum works with my brother," said Sansa. "She took her surname on professionally but her dad's Oberyn Martell. The guy's a ruthless businessman. But she is a snake. Heard she has seven siblings."
Loras nodded. "She was my first love. Until I cheated on her with Renly."
"Wow," replied Sansa. "I better get back to my table. Good luck with your ex."
She left, feeling unnerved when she passed Nymeria who wore a smirk on her face as she sat with Loras and touched his forearm.
"Somebody's a lightweight!" Sansa grinned, noticing that Arya was slurring her words as she bitched about a teacher at her school.
"Who is she? Who is she to say I'd fail at university? I'm not going anyway!" Arya said.
Jon and Sansa turned to her. "What?" They asked.
Arya waved her hand. "Let me elaborate. Syrio said I'm Olympic material. I'm going to train hard to get into the 2020 Olympics!"
"Wow, that's amazing Arya!" Grinned Daenerys. "You must be very talented!"
Sam nodded, giving Arya a cheer with their glasses. "Good on you, Arya."
"Guys..." Arya moaned when she saw her older siblings' faces. "This is my dream. It's what I want to do!"
Jon sighed. "I know, Arya. You've always been destined to be a fencer but I don't want you to regret anything."
"I won't regret it, I promise!" Arya smiled. Her eyes caught Gendry's again. "There's something I need to do."
She stood up and headed to an empty table, Gendry following her. As they sat down, he kissed her cheek.
"You've been avoiding me," she said.
"No. Happy Birthday, by the way." He smiled. "I've been busy. Dad has me working hard and helping Uncle Renly."
Arya nodded. "Ah."
"Sorry."
Arya shook her head. "No, it's okay. Honestly, babe. I just miss you, that's all."
Gendry looked around and when he was sure that nobody was watching them, especially her older siblings, he kissed her lips.
"A little birthday kiss." He smiled at her.
Looking at him through her lashes, Arya blushed. "They won't mind."
"No?"
"You saved my life and Jon's but you saved my life so they're kind of in debt to you, my love."
"Okay then, Princess."
Arya scowled but she let him kiss her deeply, wrapping her arms around his neck as his own found her waist.
Meanwhile, Jon excused himself to the bar to order water since he was designated driver for the night. Or morning depending on when his sisters decided to leave.
He went to the bar out of the VIP section since the one inside only had alcoholic drinks and luxury foods. He wasn't going to find water there unless it was overpriced bottled water which he was not about to ask his sister to pay for.
"Uh, just a water please," he told the bartender.
"Jon Snow?"
Jon turned and his face broke out into a recognising smile. "Edd!" He said, hugging the man. "Eddison Tollett, it's been ages, mate!"
Edd nodded. "Yeah. It has. How are you?"
"I'm good. Celebrating Arya's 18th."
"18th?" Edd asked. "Shit, it's really been that long! Only saw her when she was 13!"
Jon chuckled. "Yeah, don't get me started. Wow, I can't believe you're here. Last I heard from you, you were in Afghanistan!"
Edd shrugged. "Yeah, finished my tour. I've actually left the army. I'm going to try and get a paramedic job in the NHS."
Jon smiled. "I can put in a word for you at my hospital if you'd like?"
"Would ya, mate? That would be great." Edd grinned. "Not that being a medic in the army wasn't great but I missed home, you know?"
"Yeah," nodded Jon. "How's the family?"
"Good, good. Yours?"
Jon shrugged now. "We're getting there."
"Yeah, I heard. Robb was a good man - so was your dad. Legends, they were. So sorry, mate."
"Cheers," said Jon, clinking his water with Edd's drink. "Why don't you join us? We're in the VIP section, want to make today all good for Arya, you know?"
Edd looked towards the VIP section before turning back to Jon. "Nah, you're all good mate."
"Sam's there, it will be three-quarters of the musketeers together again."
"This was my last drink," said Edd. "I'm heading off home. The missus is waiting."
Jon smirked. "Missus?"
"Yeah, another reason I left the army. My woman and I were on three tours together, we're expecting our first kid in the summer." Edd grinned.
"Another reason to celebrate, mate!" Jon exclaimed. "You wouldn't believe, I'm a dad too."
Edd's eyes widened. "Shit, you too?! Look at us now, four men went to Med school, all became dads. Well, Robb..."
Jon nodded sadly. "Yeah. He's up there with his kid though so we're still together somehow. Hey, Sam's little one is huge."
"I saw his Facebook. That kid is a great kid," smiled Edd. "How about yours? Girl or boy?"
"Had a little boy. He's nine months," said Jon, taking out his phone to show him a picture. "You wouldn't believe who his mum is."
Edd gave him a look. "Wild Red?"
"Yep."
"You two still together after all that on-off shit?" Edd asked, baffled.
Jon shook his head. "I'm with someone else actually. She's over at the VIP section. Ygritte and I... we weren't meant to be. We've been over for a long while now."
"Ah, we were all rooting for ya. I hope the new woman is just as good. If not better. You deserve better, you're a good man."
Jon smiled. "You too, mate. Congratulations."
"Congrats to you too. And Robbie boy up there too! And Sam. You know what?"
Jon burst out laughing. "Okay, we got it. I got to head back but keep in touch yeah? I'll give you my number."
Back at the table, Dany and Sam were in discussion about work when Sansa noticed the sparkling rock on the blonde's left ring finger.
"What the hell is that?" She asked Daenerys.
Dany's eyes widened and she quickly hid her hand. "N-Nothing."
Shaking her head, Sansa grabbed the hand to inspect the rock. "That's my aunt's ring!" She gasped.
"Okay, we didn't want to steal Arya's thunder. Jon and I are engaged," said Dany with a small smile.
Sam grinned. "Oh, congratulations! That means I'm Best Man by default."
Sansa, on the other hand, was stunned. She released Daenerys' hand and gulped down her drink.
"Sansa?" Daenerys asked softly.
Tears sprung to Sansa's eyes as she sighed. "Congrats, Dany. I'm happy for you."
"You don't look it," said Dany sadly.
"I just wish my parents were here, to witness all of this," Sansa said, gesturing to everything around her. "Arya becoming a woman, Jon becoming a family man, grandkids... They are meant to be here. They all are."
Dany sighed softly, giving the redhead a tight hug. "I'm sorry."
"We never knew our aunt," said Sansa. "She was a mere teenager when she died, my dad told us. She was just like Arya. Always wanting to do more, never settling for less. Active, confident..."
She glanced towards Arya who was busy making out with Gendry, the both of them ignoring cheers and wolf whistles from the bachelor party table. She swore she saw Gendry blush at his family members' actions.
"And then Jon... Lyanna and Jon were alike in so many ways too. I swear, him, Lyanna and Arya were peas in a pod even if they didn't know each other."
Speaking of Jon, he returned to their table and quickly noticed Sansa's demeanour.
"What's wrong?"
Sansa sighed, wiping her tears. "Nothing. Don't be alarmed! I just found out about your impending marriage. First a baby and now marriage. It seems everything is full storm ahead for you, big brother."
Jon gave Sam and Dany looks. He then took a sip of his water and nodded.
"Why do you seem upset about this?" He asked her.
"I'm not upset!" Sansa cried out. "Everything..." Her voice became choked up and she blinked her incoming tears away. "Everything's happening so fast. I-I..."
She looked around. She saw Arya smiling lovingly at Gendry. Her adult sister. She then briefly looked at Jon. Her big brother who had his life already mapped out for him. Kids, marriage. Half of their family died a year and a half ago and they are moving on and growing up so quickly?
What about her? Where was her life heading towards?
At age 22, she was divorced, broken...
"Tell Arya I'll see her later. I have to go," she said quietly.
She stood up, collected her purse and walked out. She felt like she couldn't breathe.
Running a hand through her ginger locks, she turned away from everyone who tried to call her back. The music became muted in her ears and her breathing became shallower as she tried blinking the blue lights away.
Finally stepping outside, she threw up.
She felt like... nothing.
"Sansa?"
She shakily wiped her mouth and glanced up to see Ygritte standing there with a cigarette between her lips.
"Please, leave me alone."
Ygritte sighed. "No... We were friends once. We may be civil because we have Neddy to think about but we were friends. Tell me what's wrong."
"No one will understand..." Sansa sobbed.
"I have a feeling Jon would." Ygritte tried.
"She's right."
The two redheads turned to find Jon standing there, patiently waiting.
"What's wrong?"
Ygritte patted Sansa on the shoulder and went inside, not before putting out her cigarette.
Sansa placed mints into her mouth and turned to face her brother with a shrug.
"Mum, Dad, Robb and Rickon... they died a year and a half ago. Now, you're a dad, you're getting married. You are moving on. Arya too. She's got hopes and dreams. She's finally seeing what she wants to do. She's going to make it, she's moving on. Look at me. Look at me, Jon..."
Jon faced her. "I'm looking at you but I don't understand where you're going with this. We're moving on, isn't that what we do during grief? Or-or after? Sansa..."
"I'm not moving on, Jon!" Sansa cried out. "I cry myself to sleep! I rarely eat, I'm sure you haven't noticed that. I work myself hard to the bone to get through uni, work and modelling. But I feel like I'm trapped!"
"That... that's how I feel sometimes. Trapped." Jon sighed. "I-I didn't know you weren't eating-"
"I know because I hid it well. You weren't home enough to notice and I was staying with Dany. I'd feed myself loads one day and the next... I won't eat anything or barely eat."
Jon frowned. "Aren't you moving on too? Modelling, Loras...?"
"But I'm stuck in the past!"
"So am I!"
Sansa shook her head. "I know... but I feel like this isn't real. I feel like I'm going to wake up from this nightmare called our reality. I'm twenty-two, Jon. I'm divorced... there's something you, Robb and our parents didn't know. Well, except Mum. She knew."
"Knew what?"
"I was pregnant."
Jon faltered. "Wh-what?"
"The final time Ramsay laid his hand on me and you took me to the hospital... you guys went home and Mum stayed. She stayed when they did the rape kit, the pregnancy tests... the doctor gently told me that I was pregnant but I suffered an ectopic pregnancy. I-I can't have kids, Jon. And-and Ramsay's taken that away from me. That's why I went to see him that day. Not because he called me but seeing his name pop up on my phone after all that time made me see red and I went there to make him pay for what he took from me."
"Sansa..."
"I can't move on from that. You know all I ever wanted was to have a family of my own one day."
"You-You talked about naming your children after...-"
Sansa smiled sadly. "I'm a good liar, aren't I?" She sniffled. "I hide my pain just as good as you hide yours and Arya hides hers."
"I'm... I'm so sorry." Jon whispered, tears falling down his cheeks. "I-I didn't know."
She gave him a shrug. "I didn't tell anyone else apart from Mum... To be honest, I'm not even sure how I feel about Loras lately. I really like him but is he going to be long-term? The last relationship I had was with Ramsay. What if he doesn't want me knowing what happened with Ramsay and I can't have kids?"
"I'm sure Loras isn't that shallow. He'll understand. I'll need to properly meet him though so why don't you come back in so we can introduce ourselves?"
Nodding, she gave him a smile. "Can I have a hug, first?"
He quickly brought her in for a tight hug, placing a soft kiss on her forehead as he wiped both of their tears away. "You're going to be just fine. I'll get you all the support you need - I'll speak with doctors to see what they can do-"
"I like that you're wanting to fix this but I think it's permanent."
"Is that what they said?" He asked.
Sansa nodded. "More or less. I mean, I had to get a tube taken out-"
"Then it's still possible, Sansa. God, have you been thinking that you can't have kids for all this time?! Sans... if you have one working fallopian tube, you can still get pregnant. It's possible. There are significantly high chances of a successful pregnancy with just one tube. Why didn't you tell me when you were told?" He asked, giving her another tight hug.
Sansa beamed. "I'm just being stupid aren't I?" She asked, looking up at him.
"You are. You really are." He laughed. "You're going to make a great mum one day. I'm sorry it didn't happen for you before."
"Well, anything can happen. Let's go have a toast to your engagement if Arya can pull herself off of Gendry. And... let's introduce my big brother and boyfriend to each other because I have a feeling that I can move on. I knew you'd make everything have sense again. Thank you, Jon." She smiled.
"You're welcome. Now, come on. I have a fiancée to get back to."
Inside, Arya returned to her party table, Loras joining them too.
"Where's Jon and Sansa?" She asked, giving Loras a polite smile.
"Uh..." Sam trailed off, shrugging. He looked just as concerned and confused as Daenerys.
Arya frowned. "Guys?"
"Ah, Loras! Saves me having to grab you." They heard. "Jon, this is Loras. Loras, meet my big brother, Jon." Sansa grinned.
Jon shook Loras' hand, making the blonde laugh nervously.
"Strong grip there, Jon. Heard lots about you."
Jon took a seat after Sansa took hers and he gave Loras a polite smile.
"Same. So, it's your sister's wedding to your ex-boyfriend? Is that right?" Jon asked.
Sansa's eyes widened and she quickly hit his shoulder. "Jon!"
"No, it's fine!" Loras chuckled. "Yep. It's ironic as I was telling Sansa earlier that I left my ex for him and it's only fitting that he got with my sister behind my back too. But there are no hard feelings, I'm not one to hold grudges. I like to have fun with whoever is around."
Jon frowned. "Hmm," he replied.
"Well, you missed quite a bit whilst you were snogging Gendry's face off," said Sansa to Arya.
Arya blushed, crossing her arms. "What?"
"Jon's getting married."
Their little sister's eyes widened and she stared right at him. "First a baby and now a wedding. Will you let me catch up?" She asked, making him laugh. "Who's the lucky woman?" She joked.
Daenerys rolled her eyes playfully but showed off her new rock. "It was your aunt's, I believe."
Arya nodded, taking a look. "Yeah. It looks very at home on you. Congratulations guys. I'm guessing I'm just a plain ol' bridesmaid since Sansa's taking Maid of Honour?"
"You can be if you want," said Sansa.
"Yeah," added Dany. "I don't mind as long as we have our family there." She smiled.
"Well, I guess we should get the champagne in instead!" Sansa grinned.
She could see Jon giving her glances from the corner of her eye but today and tomorrow were all about Arya. She would just have to breathe through it until Sunday.
...
The next morning, Jon grinned when he saw Sansa groaning under her duvet. He opened the curtains and she cursed at him, throwing a silk covered pillow at him. He quickly dodged it.
"Fuck off, Jon!"
"Rise and shine, sunshine! Come on, wake up," he said. "You need to do Arya's breakfast and sort out those last minute deliveries. I did warn you to stop after three bottles of champagne." He chuckled, folding his arms.
Sansa groaned loudly. "Do we have to?"
"You have to! Come on. I'll wake her up in a bit."
"Is Bran home?"
Jon shook his head. "He'll be back for the party. Howland's taken him, Jojen and Meera to the museum. He deserves a little treat."
Sansa nodded, blocking her eyes. "Yeah, that's nice." She gestured to her en-suite. "Can you start running the bath for me, please?" She pouted.
Jon sighed. "What I'd do for you all," he said. "Fine, but you have to be up in two minutes."
"Hmm-hmm."
He entered the bathroom, starting up the bath as he plugged the hole at the bottom and left her room. He then headed down the hall to his new room which was Ned and Catelyn's room before.
He still felt weird about sleeping in there but the sheets were changed to fit his style and the walls were repainted.
Jon hadn't even had the heart to clear out their drawers and wardrobes. His clothes were still in his old room in the right tower.
Their room still smelt of them, his father's strong but warm aftershave and his stepmother's perfume.
With Catelyn in mind, he entered his room and went to her old desk in front of the window where she had the perfect view of the front driveway and woods surrounding the drive up to the manor.
He sat down and looked through the drawers, rifling through bills, bank statements, phone bills etc and sighed. Nothing.
Throwing the stacks of paper back into their respective drawers, he heard a hollow sound on the top left drawer and bent down to inspect it more.
It had a secret compartment beneath.
Inside, there were letters addressed to him and him only.
Jon frowned.
Opening one up randomly, he read it.
Dear Jon,
I think I've found your birth mother. I know it isn't my place to tell you this, it's your father's but she isn't dead. She never took her life. She did abandon you but she never died. I'll do more investigating if I can but just know this, I'm here and she isn't. I want to be there more for you.
Faithfully, Catelyn.
Jon's eyes widened and he retrieved his mother's locket from around his neck, staring at it.
It just had a picture of him as a baby and the word 'Snow' engraved on its shell.
He continued to look through the letters, realising that the one he read first out of them was the final one. There were letters which continued from the first ever letter from Catelyn which contained her pen.
"Jon?"
Startled, Jon turned around to see Sansa dressed in a light T-shirt and leggings with her slippers on.
"Have you woken Arya up yet?" She asked him.
Jon shook his head. "Sorry, got distracted clearing this out." He sighed, slipping the letters back into the secret compartment the minute she closed her eyes to yawn. "There are so many phone bills!"
Sansa chuckled lightly. "She paid for all of ours except Robb's and yours obviously as Dad paid for yours."
"You guys sure did rack up some minutes. Especially Rickon's..." Jon trailed off sadly. "Probably from watching videos on improving his techniques on YouTube or something."
Sansa smiled. "Yeah. I'll wake her up, don't worry. Ghost's eating his breakfast so I'll let him out for some exercise with Hodor and Dany's here."
"Send her up," he told her. "Actually, I'll head down with you to wake Arya up then meet her downstairs."
"Okay. I really wish we had a lift. I feel embarrassed having you carry me up three flights of stairs this morning," she blushed. "You're a great big brother."
Jon grinned. "Just don't think I'll be doing it all the time. It was worse enough doing it again for Arya."
They both glanced at each other with knowing looks.
"Lightweight," they said at the same time before laughing.
By 2 PM, the party had started and the main living area was fairly full of guests already.
They had intended to have outdoor activities but the weather was colder by the minute with everyone deciding to stay inside where there was heating and not snow.
But that didn't stop the little ones and Arya from heading outside to make snowmen or snow angels in the snow.
"She's still a child at heart," said Jon to his fiancée.
Daenerys grinned. "I want to join them."
"Go on then." He chuckled at her childishness.
Her eyes sparkled and she got her coat on before kissing his cheek and heading outside into the cold. She looked so out of place at first, not being used to the cold weather as she was born in the Summer city of King's Landing where it never snowed but she and Arya had quickly begun a fun game of snowball fighting with Gendry and Hot Pie joining them.
"Here's Daddy!" Jon heard a soft voice say behind him.
He turned around and grinned when Neddy reached out for him, his father immediately bringing him to his chest for a hug.
"You should know," Ygritte started. "My dad's here."
She glanced towards the drinks table where her father stood, looking through the choices. His fiery red hair stuck out unevenly in places and it didn't distract Jon from being surprised at his choice of clothing.
"I may be a model and have good taste but he'll stick to his eccentric routes," said Ygritte, gesturing to her father's bowtie suit ensemble which varied in colours of green, yellow and blue. "Neddy loves the colours."
"Do you want me to talk to him or...?" Jon trailed off.
Ygritte shrugged. "You do you. You can if you want but I just want this to go as peaceful as can be. I had to convince him to come with me for Neddy. I'm sorry for using our son as a barter but-"
"It's fine. We're co-parenting, I need to be civil to your family as you are to mine if Neddy's going to have the best life we can give him." Jon smiled.
She looked grateful and left his side in search for some alcohol. She spotted Sansa by the alcoholic drinks table and smiled at her, receiving one back.
"Friends again?"
Sansa nodded. "Just, don't do that again. I want to like you but you make it hard, Ygritte."
"I know." She sighed. "You know what? Forget the alcohol, I need the loo first."
Sansa smiled as she left, returning her attention to sorting out the different mixes of cocktails by colour ranging from light colours to deeper ones.
She felt a presence beside her and smiled when Tyrion picked up a flute.
"You're around," she noted.
He nodded. "I am. You don't need to worry, they found who poisoned my father."
"May I ask who?" She asked.
"My...," he paused. "Cousin."
Sansa gasped. "But Lancel seemed so sweet!"
"Looks are deceiving." Tyrion sighed. "You're clear, I'm clear. Everyone else at the dinner table is clear."
He quickly left her side, leaving her still in shock. She recovered and continued to organise the drinks, wondering why their help didn't.
"Sansa," a voice called out.
She immediately stiffened up and slightly tilted her head into the direction where the voice came from.
"Roose. Who invited you?"
"Neighbours are welcome. Or isn't that what it says on the board outside your gates?" He asked.
Sansa picked up a flute and took a sip from it. "Fine."
"You look beautiful, Sansa." Roose continued. "A spitting image of Catelyn. I'm sorry by the way."
She tried not to shake, quickly hiding her trembling hand away from him. "Thank you."
She realised him coming closer to her, standing right beside her as he leant in front of her to collect a glass.
"I don't know if you know this but Ramsay's dead, Sansa. He died a couple of months ago at the family estate."
"I know."
Roose gave her a little smile. "I understand what you're feeling. You and your family made sure that we never crossed paths again."
"Yes."
"Why should the sins of thy son affect thy father?" Roose asked. "I didn't hurt you."
She shook her head. "You didn't," she replied, almost breathless.
"No, I didn't." Roose sighed. "You know what I think? I think you brought it on yourself. Ramsay would never hurt a fly - you must have upset him somehow. He told me that you were cheating on him, you refused to aid him in certain things-"
"How dare you," Sansa said lowly. "Come into my home and throw around false accusations. Nothing can excuse what he did to me. Your son was-"
"You're a whore, Sansa. You'll always be one. He told me you went out with that boy, Joffrey. Cersei's boy." Roose cleared his throat. "You were willing to pleasure him but why couldn't you do the same for your husband?"
Sansa began to shake. "I didn't please anyone. He forcefully took my vi-"
"Lady Catelyn will be rolling around in her grave. Your bastard brother's got it all, hasn't he? What about you? Or Brandon? Why did your bastard brother inherit the estate?"
She saw red. "This has nothing to do with you. My brother is none of your concern!"
"He may change his name all he likes but he will always be a bastard. His mother was a whore, his redhead girlfriend is one and how surprising that his sister's one too?" Roose asked. "You're worthless, Sansa. That's why it never went to you. You'll never amount to anything, you are a disappointment to everyone and I'm surprised my son didn't finish ending you. It would have done your family a favour." He placed his empty glass down. "Nice party. I see Arya's flourished in becoming a beautiful, young woman. Tell her that I said 'hello'."
Sansa felt his presence leave and she swallowed deeply, shakily bringing her glass up to her lips as tears pricked the edges of her eyes.
Across the room, Jon gave Neddy to Gilly and Sammy so that the two babies could play with each other.
He looked around the room. His brother was talking with Meera with faint blushes on his cheeks whilst Jojen got them drinks. Arya was coming inside to greet guests. And Sansa...
He went over to her, intending to grab a drink too. "Hey, everything's going swimmingly. Well done, sis!"
When she didn't reply, he became concerned, gently turning her to face him.
"Why are you crying?"
Sansa seemed to be broken out of her reverie, her eyes widening before she placed her glass down and turned around, heading outside in her short yellow dress.
"Sansa?" Jon asked.
He frowned, grabbing one of her long coats from the cloakroom and headed outside to follow her.
She went through the trees, knocking branches out of her way as she did so.
She heard two sets of footsteps - Jon's and Ghost's footsteps.
"Leave me alone!" She cried out. "For once, I just want to be left alone."
"Don't you want your coat?" Jon asked her.
Sansa halted, wiping her tears from her cheeks. "Roose is here."
Jon stopped. He set his jaw and took a deep breath in before releasing it.
"I'm guessing you both talked?"
She nodded. "He more or less called you a bastard and every woman in your life a whore including me."
"And so? I've been called worse. And you need to ignore what other people call you. It isn't true so don't let them win by reacting." He sighed. "The word 'bastard'... it feels like nothing to me. I don't react to it, I don't feel anything for that word. I used to feel upset, angry and guilty whenever I was called that. I am a bastard but I won't let that word define me. Being raped and abused doesn't make one a whore. You survived, Sansa. Don't sell yourself short."
She blinked slowly at him. "Did you know that Ygritte's-"
"I know. We used to argue about that." Jon blushed. "We were always off when she went off and... I turned a blind eye because I didn't want to lose her but every so often, a few guys would turn up for her and we'd argue."
Sansa shivered and she grabbed her coat from his hand, slipping it on quickly. "I know that you don't know your mum but... maybe Roose does. He seemed to know her. He referred to her in spite."
Jon decided to confess. "Your mum wrote me letters that remained unsent. Robert gave me one and I found the rest myself. She told me that Dad lied about my mother. That she isn't dead, she's alive."
"Do you want to find her?"
"I don't give a shit about her. She wasn't there, Dad and Catelyn were."
His sister nodded, noticing that he was shivering under his suit too. "Let's go in."
"I'm good." He smiled. "Let's go visit someone, shall we?"
She hooked her arms through his and they walked towards the family graveyard towards the graves of their parents.
"I know Arya said no tears this weekend but, maybe you'd like to talk to them. Feel reassured about everything," he suggested.
He kissed her cheek and left to go back into the warmth, stopping to gently caress Neddy's head. He then proceeded towards Roose.
"Lord Bolton," he greeted politely. "How's the family? I heard your son turned five."
Roose frowned. "You're keeping tabs, Lord Stark?"
Jon nodded once. "Just as you are with my family. More specifically, my sister."
"I mean no offence, Lord Stark," Roose smiled.
"Your wife, Walda," said Jon. "She loves her job, doesn't she? Midwifery's a good profession."
Roose was stunned but he hid it brilliantly. "Yes, it is. I've seen you and that girlfriend of yours with a baby. Heirs so soon, Lord Stark?"
"Hmm," replied Jon. "It was always the plan, regardless..." He trailed off. "Why are you here, Lord Bolton? I thought Catelyn made herself clear about our families' involvement with each other."
"I never understood why your father took you in as a baby. Now, I do. You're just like him. I'm sure you've heard that many times. Would you believe me if I told you that I knew your mother?"
Jon's eyes flickered to Roose's before they landed on Sansa entering the manor again, taking her coat off and disappearing into the cloakroom.
"I would. My father, Robert Baratheon, you and another friend of yours were good friends back then with my namesake, Jon Arryn. He told us of the mischief you guys got up to in your late teens with the old guy."
Roose nodded. "Would you like to-"
"Why did you call my sister a whore?" Jon cut him off, feigning curiosity.
Roose raised an eyebrow. "Straight to the point, Lord Stark. Just like your father." He sipped his drink. "I don't care about the ins and outs of her relationship with my late son but she could have prevented what happened to her, fought back, remained faithful to him. She stepped out of the marriage, she chose others over him and it was her who pressed for the marriage in the first place. She toyed with Ramsay, liked his wealth even though your family had all of this," he gestured around them. "To offer. Now, she's a model, she sleeps with older men for some company-"
"Bastard, whore. You're full of spiteful comments today," smirked Jon. He picked up a flute and sipped from it. "You called my child's mother one too. And my own mother who I do not know anything about. Am I supposed to be hurt? Shocked? I've given up giving zero fucks about what people say about me and my family so what did you hope to achieve by attending today? That you'd drive my sister into a dark hole, she'd kill herself or disappear?"
"I'm surprised you're defending-"
"My sister's an adult. She's strong, she's a capable woman who is of sound mind. What she does is none of my concern as long as it doesn't hurt the rest of us in the process. Same goes for my child's mother," Jon stated. "Now, if I see you," he went closer to Roose as if he was about to whisper an inside joke. He smiled. "Near anyone I know, including my friends, I'll waste no time in getting to know your sweet wife better. She works upstairs, it won't be hard to become so easily friendly with one's wife. And when I befriend her, she'll see right through you and leave you, taking your son with her. No one likes an abusive father for their child."
Roose cleared his throat, placing his empty glass down and returning the smile, although strained. "Good chat, Lord Stark." He put his hand out.
Jon took it, shaking it a little firmer than he was used to. "And you, Lord Bolton."
Roose side-stepped around him but paused, leaning into Jon's ear. "Your mother's called Ashara Snow Dayne. With any luck, you'd be able to find her."
With that, the older man left leaving Jon to collect another glass for himself and one for Sansa.
"Is he gone?" She asked him, gratefully accepting the glass.
"Yeah," he nodded. "He told me my mother's name. My mum's my late godfather's sister."
Sansa turned to look at him in shock. "Oh, what are you going to do? Are you going to try and find her?"
Jon shook his head. "She gave me up. Why would Dad lie though?" He asked. "I'm cracking open that Westeros Wine in the kitchen."
She smiled. "Let's save it for later when it's just our family. Mum and Dad would have wanted that. Especially since we haven't planted those trees yet. We'll have to use the greenhouse."
Giving her a sad smile, Jon left to find his fiancée who was happily talking to Arya and Gendry.
"May I borrow you?" He asked her.
Daenerys nodded, excusing themselves from his sister and her boyfriend.
Jon took the time to look at her outfit. "I remember this dress. The first dress Sansa bought with her own money." He smiled at her. "I don't mean to insult my sister but it looks better on you."
His fiancée blushed, returning the smile. "I won't tell her," she said lightly.
"I'll be heading to Ireland tomorrow morning with Ygritte. We're taking Neddy to see her grandparents for a week. I'll be back on Friday."
"Okay," she replied quietly.
"Hey, you're my fiancée, not her. We just have a child and nothing more together. It's you and me." He lifted her chin.
"Against the world?" She teased him.
Nodding, he kissed her. "Always."
She left his side to go and talk with Ygritte and Gilly with the babies. It allowed Arya to finally have a chance to bring her brother in for a hug.
"Hi," she said with a large smile on her face.
"Shit, Arya! You're freezing!" Jon chuckled, ruffling her hair.
"Thank you, Jon. I know Sansa planned everything but you deserve credit too. I keep thinking about that day. Bran and I wouldn't have been here, we would have died with Robb and Talisa. Now I'm 18 and I'm here with my family and we're healing."
Jon kissed her head. "I love you."
"I love you, too."
"You look great. Not so sure about that top but the cardigan will at least keep you warm. Not that you're warm right now."
She smiled. "I'm an adult, Jon. But thanks for being annoyingly overprotective." She kissed his cheek. "Now, where's my bloody present?"
...
Arya grinned as she opened up the small gift box from Jon. "I know what it is already but I can't help but feel excited. It's been years since I got a new phone."
She took the smartphone out of its box, looking at the colour approvingly.
"I'll sort it out for you later. Come on, open your other presents." Jon passed her a large box from Sansa.
Arya gasped. "But you've already-"
"Just open it," said Sansa as she took a sip of the Westeros Wine.
It was now late into the night, around eleven thirty. Jon was due to leave at six in the morning for Ireland with Ygritte and Neddy who were upstairs asleep in his room.
Arya opened the box up, giving a small smile at Bran who peered over her shoulder to look inside.
Inside the box, there was a grey dress with matching heels.
"This dress... You wore it at your eighteenth," Arya said. "I told you that even though I hated dresses and heels, I liked these ones because it made you look really beautiful, something I wasn't. I'm not jealous of your beauty, don't get me wrong but I'm not the prettiest girl out there."
She took the dress out of the box and held it against her chest. It smelt like their mother, Arya remembering that Catelyn had allowed Sansa to use her perfume for her birthday.
"I miss Mum..."
Sansa placed a comforting hand on her sister's knee "We all do." She glanced at Jon.
As much as he'd deny it, he did miss having somewhat of a maternal figure in his life. Catelyn was the only mother he knew regardless of their strained relationship.
Arya turned to see Bran handing her another present. It was much smaller but bigger than Jon's.
Inside was a fossil which had her name inscribed underneath the paw print.
"From the museum," said Bran. "Make your own fossils day."
"That's so sweet, Bran. Wish I wasn't hungover so I could go. Is this a direwolf print?"
Bran nodded. "Ancestors of the wolf dogs." He turned to Jon. "Can we plant the trees now?"
"Of course," smiled Jon.
They stood up and headed to the greenhouse which was connected to the sunroom so they wouldn't have to go outside the snow. Also so that Bran's wheelchair wouldn't get stuck.
Sansa made sure to grab four flutes and the wine as Jon took his suit jacket off and unbuttoned the first two buttons on his dress shirt before rolling his sleeves up and dragging six gardening pots to sit side by side.
"We do Dad's first," said Bran. "Then Mum's, Robb's, Rickon's, Talisa's and the baby's."
The others nodded, quickly getting to work. Even Sansa who surprisingly didn't squirm around dirty work these days.
When they were done, Sansa gave them each a glass and filled them up.
"To our departed ones. Shall they remain in our hearts and memories forever." Arya smiled.
"To our family," whispered Bran.
"To our family," they repeated before all drinking their wine.
...
"We'll get there by four," said Ygritte as she got into the driver's seat.
They had decided to use her car so Sansa could use Jon's throughout the week until the siblings had time to buy new cars.
"They are traditional but they know me by now. The black sheep of the family who doesn't care for tradition," she told him with a sad smile. She glanced towards him as she started the car. "Not enough sleep?"
Jon shook his head. "No. I'll sleep on the way."
"Okay," she nodded. "Thanks for letting us stay over."
"Why wouldn't I?" He asked. "You're always welcome."
She gave him a small smile and began to drive out of the estate.
"We'll have dinner with them in the evening. They are expecting guests but we shouldn't expect to entertain them. I've offered to pay for a hotel but they wouldn't have it, say there's a blizzard incoming."
Jon replied with a soft hum, looking through the passenger side's overhead mirror to look at Edward who was fast asleep.
"How will I introduce myself to them as?" He asked.
Ygritte shrugged. "Neddy's father, that's all. You don't have to refer to our relationship at all if you don't mind. The grandparents aren't used to the twenty-first century casual stuff."
"It wasn't casual though, was it?" Jon sighed. "As much as we said it was toxic or casual, we-"
"You're engaged, aren't you? Why are you dwelling in the past?" Ygritte asked, hurt laced in her words. "Yes, I loved you but you never loved me."
"What do you mean? Of course, I loved you!"
She chuckled bitterly. "Then where was my own ring?" She rolled her eyes, turning on the wipers to wipe away the snow that was beginning to settle on the windscreen.
"You and I both know it would never have led to marriage when it came to us," said Jon. "Wouldn't last a year."
"Fifteen we were. I knew you were the one when we were fifteen." She pursed her lips, deciding to focus on the road instead.
They sat in silence, Neddy occasionally whimpering in his sleep.
Six hours into the drive, Jon woke up. They were at a gas station.
Turning back, he saw that Edward was now awake, playing with his stuffed toys.
"Hey, Little Man," he yawned, leaning back to stroke the boy's curls. "Has Mummy gone inside, huh?"
Neddy looked at him with his wide eyes and seemed to reply making his father chuckle.
"Okay. Have you eaten?" Jon asked, noticing the finished bottle beside the car seat.
Before he could get out to sort out Neddy, Ygritte returned and got into the car with a bag full of snacks and drinks.
"Got a sandwich for you and a salad for me. He's eaten, he has a nap soon."
Jon nodded. "Do you want me to drive? You look tired."
"Being a single mum does that, yeah," she snarkily replied before her features softened. "Sorry. I am tired. I'm so tired and I didn't even want to go to bloody Ireland in the first place." She rubbed her face, turning to him. "Did we ever mean anything to you in the first place?"
Jon looked away, deciding that his sandwich was more interesting. "What do you mean?"
"You and me, Jonny. Don't be bloody dumb. Did we mean anything? Or was I so indisposable to you? Remember our Switzerland trip? Went with Robb and Talisa before they died... Remember that cave we found with the hot water pool? That was the first time you told me in nearly a decade of knowing each other that you loved me." She sniffled, wiping tears from her cheeks. "Robb had teased me that it meant wedding bells for us too."
"I've moved on, Ygritte. You're right. Why are we dwelling on the past?" He replied, getting out of the car. "Now move to the bloody passenger seat so we can make these four hours before the blizzard starts."
She complied, getting out and back inside the car into the passenger's seat so he could take the driver's seat.
They rode in silence for the next four hours.
When they got to Ygritte's grandparents' home, they found an elderly couple bundled up in winterwear waiting for them.
"Grie!" The woman beamed, kissing Ygritte's cheeks. "Welcome home, lass."
Ygritte smiled back, turning to hug her grandfather too. "Hello. I've missed you guys."
"Where's the little one?" Her grandfather asked, gently pushing her aside to unstrap Neddy from his car seat.
Jon only smiled, standing close by but far enough to give the family their space.
Her grandmother caught his eye and she walked up to him, wrapping a blanket around him.
"Just wearing that suit and tie, huh? It's a blizzard, boy! Get some warmth 'round ya." She smiled.
Jon blushed and grabbed their suitcases before following them inside into the warmth. He was upset to leave it but they'd think he was crazy at how adapted to the cold he was.
"Get 'round the fireplace, lad," said Ygritte's grandfather. "I'm Kaven and this here is my wife, Margi."
Margi smiled at him from where she was sitting on the sofa with Neddy in her arms.
"Handsome boy you are. Ygritte didn't tell us your name. Nor did she invite us to the wedding!" Margi said. "If it weren't for her father, we wouldn't have known either of you existed," she gestured to Neddy.
"Nana!" Ygritte hissed.
"Gariníon," Margi said in kind.
Ygritte stood her ground. "Móraí..."
The women continued their silent conversation with their eyes before Margi came to a realisation.
"You're not married?"
Ygritte shook her head. "I-"
"Ygritte, you know the traditions!" Kaven said angrily.
"I know, Grandad but-"
"First dropping out of Medical school now, having children out of wedlock. Your father should have brought you here the moment your mother died!" Karen shook his head.
Ygritte was about to reply when Jon got there first.
"As Ygritte was saying, with all due respect, we realise that it was a mistake to be with each other to have children before marriage. That's why..." He glanced at her, she was subtly shaking her head 'no'. "We're engaged."
Margi's eyes brightened as she began to squeal in happiness. "A wedding? We haven't had one of those in ages! So, what is your name again? Oh, I hope I've not forgotten-"
"I never said. I apologise," said Jon charmingly. "Lord Jonathan Stark." The name felt so foreign on his tongue. He never would have imagined being the superior Lord, nor a full Stark albeit not quite so yet. As for his full name, he only used it formally. Even at work, people called him 'Jon'.
"Lord!" Margi cried out. "Oh, my Lord! Our Ygritte will be a lady!" She grinned at her husband.
Kaven remained indifferent. "And what is it you do, Lord Stark? How does your family acquire your wealth?"
Jon sat beside the older man, shaking his hand. "Please, call me Jonathan. I am a doctor, sir. I take after my father and his before him. Our family had our wealth from old money although our professions do allow for us to have stable lives."
Kaven had a hint of a smile on his face. "Doctor?" He turned to Ygritte. "You may have pleased this old paediatrician's heart after all."
Ygritte blushed, taking Neddy from her grandmother's lap and cuddling him.
"Your son and granddaughter have been my family's neighbours for years, decades even." Jon smiled. "We met shortly before I attended boarding school."
"Private education? I approve," said Kaven. "How about your father? I'd like to meet him."
Jon's eyes dulled as he planted on a polite smile. "Unfortunately, my father is dead. He and my stepmother were killed. My older brother and youngest brother died also on that day with them. It is just my two younger sisters and our little brother remaining by my side."
Both Margi and Kaven patted his shoulder or knee in condolences.
"I'd hate to ask how it happened," frowned Margi.
"My parents were murdered in front of my little brother. He ended up dying in the process." Jon swallowed. How could one tell another that a fourteen-year-old innocent boy took his own life? "My elder brother and his wife and child crashed when they tried to help our parents and brother."
"Would you like some tea?" Margi asked quietly.
Jon nodded. "Yes please," he told her. He noticed her tears as she stood up and left to the kitchen.
"I'm so sorry, lad." Kaven sighed.
"It's not a story I prefer telling people. All I can do now is provide for my family and hope to continue doing whatever I can to maintain our lost ones' memories."
Kaven nodded. "Good lad." He slapped his thighs. "Right, forget tea. How about some good ol' Irish cream?" He grinned.
...
"What the fuck, Jonny?!" Ygritte hissed at him.
They had been sent off to the back garden shed to collect some wine for the dinner they were hosting soon but it was the first time they'd been alone with Neddy inside with Kaven.
"You're engaged to Blondie!"
Jon nodded. "Exactly. I'll let them find out that I'm a cheater so you won't get any blame from this."
"That's a shit plan! We'll just tell them the truth, it doesn't matter." She closed her eyes, refusing any tears from falling. "That's what you do. It's all about everyone else and never you. Doing this can hurt your family's name. I'll tell them the truth. I'll also tell them that you're not the father - that you're just trying to do the right thing by pretending for me-"
"I'm not denying my son, ever," Jon said. "You're an adult, Ygritte. You can't live your life in fear of your family."
"You don't understand..." She said, sitting down on a barrel. She dug her painted nails into the wood and began to scratch at it, peeling off strips of wood.
Jon knelt down in front of her. "Make me understand, then."
Ygritte searched his eyes for something. Anything. But it wasn't there. At least, not for her. It will never be there for her ever again.
"Traditions are important to me." She looked away. "Not just my family but me too."
Jon nodded. "I understand. My father risked our family reputation letting me into the family house with his legitimate children."
"Exactly. But at least you had more leniency and he treated you the same as your siblings. I'm the only granddaughter. They only ever had boys. Even my grandad. A family of boys and then I come along. The first girl in a long while." She smiled scornfully. "That meant I had so much expected from me the minute I was born."
They sat in silence for a couple of minutes. Just comfortable silence. Something Jon couldn't deny that he missed.
"So, Ramsay..."
"Don't start with anyone I've been with like that. When I found out what happened to your sister, I felt almost relieved that I only had a one night stand with him but then I remembered that it hurt your sister a lot." She winced. "Jon, you're the only one who has ever counted, meant something. You helped me create the light in my life."
Jon bit his lip. "We'll tell them the truth. If they don't like it, I'll drive us back home and you don't need to do anything you don't want to."
She placed a hand on his cheek and smiled down at him. Wiping his raven locks from his eyes, she leant their foreheads together.
"Blondie's one lucky girl to have you for life," she whispered to him. "Love her with your heart and be the best you can to her."
She let him go and stood up, collecting the wine bottles and leaving. She trudged through the snow, almost falling but she felt Jon's arms wrap around her back to steady her.
"I need you in good health to be there for our son," he teased her.
Blushing, Ygritte made the final steps herself and entered the house.
"Took your time!" Margi said. "Our guests will be here in ten minutes."
"Who are they exactly?" Ygritte asked with a frown as she placed the bottles onto the counter, shrugging her jacket off.
Margi laughed as if her granddaughter was mad. "Who else? Our dear neighbours, the Tullys!"
"Th-The Tullys, Móraí?" Ygritte asked, glancing at Jon. "As in Hoster Tully?"
"Who else?" Margi repeated. "Hoster, Brynden and Minisa have been good guests of ours for years! They trade well with their livestock. Hoster and Minisa's younger girl, Lysa, she sometimes comes down but there's something wrong with that one. Her fiancé gives me the chills as well. Poor son of hers having to have that creature for a stepfather. His late father was very kind. Oh and their son, Edmure. Sweet lad, he is!"
Jon took a deep intake of breath. "I will be upstairs with Edward. I do not wish to impose on you and your guests."
"Nonsense!" He heard from behind him. Kaven rested a hand on Jon's back. "You are our guest as well!"
"Actually," Ygritte started. "Jon and I would like to stay at a hotel. Edward doesn't sleep well."
Margi chuckled. "You and I both know that I have something perfect for that! The boy will be a blessing during nights."
Ygritte and Jon shared looks, trying everything they could to get him out of this dinner but her grandparents refused to budge.
They decided to come clean.
"We're not engaged!" Ygritte cried out. "We're not even together. I kept Edward as a secret from him - he only found out on Wednesday," she said, hanging her head in shame. "He's a good man but he isn't mine to have. Not any more. I ruined my chances with him and now he's promised to another."
Margi's mouth opened in shock as Kaven stood there in disbelief at what they were hearing. But they looked at ease with each other.
"Everything was true, don't get me wrong but we're not together. We haven't been for a year and a half."
The elderly couple turned to Jon. "Is this true?"
Jon nodded. "I'm sorry. I came here to get to know Edward better and to know you guys too because Ygritte and I want this co-parenting thing to work."
"Then why don't you want to join us for dinner?" Margi asked, getting on with cleaning cutlery and dishes. "Now that the truth is out, it would be absurd to leave in this weather."
"I agree," grumbled Kaven. "The blizzard's going to go on all night. Roads would be closed off."
Jon cleared his throat. "I know the Tullys really well."
"Oh?" Margi asked.
"They were my stepmother's family."
The couple gasped, Margi's eyes immediately dimming in recognition.
"Stark... Yes, they did say their eldest daughter married a Stark... Your father was Eddard, wasn't he?" She asked quietly. "I'm so sorry. Perhaps, you should leave as a courtesy."
Jon smiled gratefully, grabbing his jacket and heading towards the door. As he opened it, a family stood behind it all of their eyes widened.
"Jon? Is that you?" Hoster asked.
Jon felt as if the air was knocked out of his body. His eyes falling upon each present member of the Tully family. The family who refused to attend family gatherings because of him. The family who let a small, innocent child be the reason they couldn't connect with their grandchildren, nieces or nephews.
"Mr-Mr Tully-"
Hoster frowned. "What's with the mister, boy?" He asked Jon, stepping into the house with Brynden, Edmure and Minisa in tow.
Jon felt a presence beside him. It was Ygritte and she had her eyes narrowed at the family, almost shielding him from them.
"I didn't know you'd be here. I'm just-"
Minisa silenced him. "Come here and give your adoptive grandmother a hug, Jonathan," she said softly, opening her arms wide.
Jon turned to Ygritte, silently asking her whether this was a trick or not but neither one of them spotted any reason for this being one.
So, Jon stepped into Minisa's arms and she hugged him tightly. He could feel wet patches on his neck as she sniffled.
"I'm so sorry," she whispered when they let go. "We were coming to visit for Arya's birthday. She's a woman now, isn't she?" She smiled softly.
Jon nodded. "Y-Yes."
"Hoster fell ill then we got news of the blizzard. Your father did love saying 'winter is coming'." She smiled fondly. "It sure is here!"
Hoster gently slapped Jon on the shoulder. "Good lad," he told him. "Stepping up for your siblings like that. You'd make a good lord like your father was."
Jon was surprised. The family who resented him for existing were being nice and understanding. He couldn't believe it.
He saw Edmure smiling to himself from the corner of his eye. He was about to question him but Brynden brought Jon in for a hug too.
"I always liked you boy," he whispered into Jon's ear. "Stay strong, lad."
Jon was becoming overwhelmed by the sudden support from Catelyn's family. Were her letters of fondness true after all? "Where're Catelyn's older brothers?"
"Died a long while ago, boy." Brynden shook his head. "Surprised Catelyn never told you all."
Jon frowned. Maybe she did but just not him. He wasn't hers after all.
As the others went inside to the dining room with Ygritte, Neddy and her grandparents, Jon hung back with Edmure.
"Hello," the older man said.
"Hi," said Jon. "How's the family?"
Edmure smiled. "The wife and daughter are good, yes. I'll be around your parts for business soon. I'll stop by and see the girls and Bran. I hope Arya received all our gifts."
Jon returned the smile. "She did, yes. She thanks you all. Why-?"
"Are everyone being nice to you?" Edmure finished. "You did what we all couldn't. My father's ill, he couldn't take on three orphans." He winced. "I hate that word. I apologise for using it. He couldn't take on your siblings and from your father's side, there was no one there too. But you," Edmure said, pointing at Jon. "You took your siblings in and you worked hard to keep them living comfortably. You helped keep Arya in private school, you helped Brandon become better every day and you helped Sansa too. You supported them even though you had your own life. You sacrificed your life for theirs and that is worthy of every bloody award in the world. Catelyn called me one night," he said.
"What did she say?"
"That she regretted things when it came to you. You were innocent, Jon. You couldn't be blamed for Ned's sins. She wanted things to change between the both of you. You were very sick once," said Edmure.
"Meningitis," confirmed Jon. "I was sixteen."
Edmure nodded. "I don't know how much you remember but Catelyn prayed for you and sat by your bedside for the duration you were sick. When you were getting better and were becoming more aware, she left you because she didn't want to impose."
Jon almost laughed. "Are we talking about the same Catelyn Stark?"
Edmure shrugged. "I know you doubt me, Jon. But she did want to try before her death but you were an adult by then and you rarely came home. She didn't even have your phone number and your siblings refused her to have it because they feared that she'd use it against you."
"Edmure-"
"I'm your uncle, regardless," smiled Edmure.
Jon smiled back. "Uncle Edmure, I've gone about my life without the love of a mother. I don't need it but I won't ever deny my children that. Both my parents and Catelyn messed up when it came to me but I don't resent them. I carry on, I move on because there's no point staying in the darkness when the light has so much to offer. I don't need a mother. Not now, not in the future, not ever."
"Of course," said Edmure. "Now, let's go and eat."
...
Back in Winterfell, Arya laid across Gendry's bare chest, smiling up at him.
"Was I... okay?" She whispered.
Gendry placed a kiss on her head. "You were more than 'okay', Princess."
Arya blushed, pulling her duvet tighter across her chest. "I just get a sinking feeling my brother's going to storm in and all hell would be loose," she chuckled lightly.
"Unless he has some weird, crazy, telepathic powers I really doubt it." Gendry grinned, heading towards her en-suite. "Thanks, Arya."
Arya shrugged. "Thanks," she replied. "I've got a nice view-"
"Want to join it?"
"I'm good laying here for a second. Thanks for the offer though," she said, blushing.
She was thankful that Sansa's bedroom was above hers and completely soundproof and Bran, because his room was in the tower along with Jon's old room, they had put him on the west wing in Robb's old room where his room was bigger than Bran's and Arya's combined but far away from her too.
Arya took a minute to digest what had happened. It was her first time. He made her feel special and beautiful.
Glancing at the dress her sister gave her, she realised that she didn't need pretty girl dresses to be beautiful, she already was to someone who mattered.
Not that her family didn't matter. They always did before anyone else but if a guy found her beautiful, it would mean that there was a chance that other guys found her beautiful. She wasn't the ugly duckling she thought she was with the wide doe eyes and short 'horse' face.
Her father had seldom referred her as her aunt, Lyanna. Now, Lyanna had been very beautiful, her family lovingly calling her the 'Queen of Love and Beauty'. Arya never believed her father when he called her a spitting image of Lyanna but then more people began to notice her as she blossomed into a woman.
"My beautiful daughter. God, you look like my sister, Lyanna! One day, you'll be loved by a man better than me and he will appreciate your beauty just as much as I do."
Arya let a few tears slip down her cheeks as she remembered her father's words.
"Hey, Beautiful?"
She was snapped out of her thoughts and glanced towards the open door to her en-suite.
"Yeah, babe?"
"Where are your towels?" Gendry asked her, peeping his head through the door.
Had she been thinking for that long? She blushed.
"Why do you need one? I've seen everything." She smiled lustily.
Gendry laughed as a faint red colour marked his cheeks as he wiped his nose from water droplets.
"Fine," he said, stepping into the room. He looked through her drawers, giving her a view of his behind. "Got one," he announced, holding up and wrapping it around his waist. "I'll have to go soon."
"Why?" Arya pouted.
"I'm going to Italy tomorrow morning with my dad to get more male models. It will take two days but I promise, the chance I get when I come back, we'll go to Hot Pie's."
Arya grinned. "It's a deal."
Upstairs, Sansa tried placing kisses on Loras' neck but he seemed distracted.
"What's wrong?" She finally asked, getting frustrated.
Loras sighed. "Nym... She asked me to go to Dorne with her."
"Why? You're taken," said Sansa.
"Yes but it's her birthday. She's throwing this big, traditional party and she wants the old gang back together. Renly said he's going and so is Geri."
Sansa kissed him. "I'll go with you. I've been to Dorne, it's really beautiful-"
"I can't ask that of you. You have to stay with your siblings. You said, Jon won't be back until Friday and I leave tomorrow afternoon and won't get back until Thursday." Loras pouted.
Sansa pecked him and leant their foreheads together. "Go. Have fun."
"Thank you," he told her. "You haven't got much on your TV."
"We didn't call the TV line up yet. Jon was meant to. We can just watch some movies." She offered.
Loras nodded but then shook his head. "We haven't..." He trailed off, looking at her suggestively. "You know," he finished.
Sansa frowned. "I'm fine with just making out," she tried.
Honestly, she still had scars from her marriage to Ramsay. She had wondered if some were ever going to heal but then she'd given up hope of that happening.
"Come on, Sansa. What are you scared of? You're beautiful. You know that and I know that." Loras smiled, wiping her hair from her eyes.
Her breath hitched in her throat as she swallowed deeply, trying not to let her demons out.
"I just don't want to have sex. I'm not in the mood," she said, shrugging.
"Will wine help?" Loras asked. "Come on, Sansa. As much as I love every inch of your lips on mine..."
She stayed silent, giving him a ghost of a smile.
Loras smiled back, starting to kiss her neck as her arms wrapped around his neck. He trailed kisses up and down it, sometimes resting on her lips.
Then, his hands found the bottom of her shirt but she stopped them, continuing to kiss him.
"You first," she said nervously.
Loras eagerly took his shirt off and continued to kiss and nip at her neck.
She felt his hand trail down her stomach over her cotton shirt and her breathing quickened.
His kisses became more fervent as he unbuckled his belt and undid his zip. His hand then rubbed the side of her hip.
"You're beautiful," Loras whispered into her ear.
Slowly, his other hand stroked between her thighs, getting higher and higher, making her breathing even quicker.
When he got closer, Sansa stopped him.
"G-get off."
Loras frowned. "What?"
"Get the fuck off me," said Sansa.
Loras got off of her, confusion and hurt written on his features as he watched Sansa trying to wipe every trace on her body that he made off herself.
Hot tears slipped down her cheeks as she began to sob.
"Get out!" She screamed at him. "Get the fuck out!"
They looked at the door when they heard frantic knocking, Sansa breathing heavily.
"Sans?" She heard Arya call out. "Are you okay, what's going on?"
Loras got off her bed, putting his shirt and shoes on before looking back at Sansa in hurt. He whipped open the door, stunning Arya as he pushed past her and left.
Arya stepped inside. "Sansa?" She asked, observing that her sister was in the middle of a panic attack. "Are you okay? Do you want me to call Jon?" She glared behind her where Loras had left just moments before. "If he hurt you, Jon will deal with him-"
"No," sobbed Sansa. "It wasn't him! It was Ramsay... I tried, I really did but I can't..." She shook her head. "He's tainted me. I can't touch another man like that because they'd see my scars, my abuse... That and the fact that if another man and I have sex... all I'd see is him..."
Arya turned away. Sansa had never really spoken of her abuse in detail with her. Preferring not to frighten her younger siblings but she knew that Jon and Robb knew everything. They'd seen her, fresh from being beaten and raped. She knew Sansa physically suffered but she rarely mentally suffered. She liked hiding that from her and Bran. She let her guard down for Jon. Well, Arya let her guard down for Jon too.
Jon understood everything, she couldn't blame her sister. Jon could be a priest and listen to everyone's confessionals, sympathising with each one. It made him honourable.
"You don't have to go in detail," said Arya. "I can call Jon. You guys are closer these days than he is to me. I don't-"
"Sit with me, please..." Sansa cried. "I don't need Jon, I want my sister," she whispered.
Arya obliged, getting under the covers and allowing her sister to rest her head against her chest. She decided to change the subject.
"I've... I've just had sex."
Sansa looked up at her, a small smile gracing her lips. "Oh. How was it?"
Arya blushed. "Shit, uh..."
"What?"
"No! It wasn't shit! I didn't expect you to ask, that's all. Do sisters talk about these things? You never told me about your first-" She stopped herself. "Sorry."
"No," sighed Sansa. "Don't be. Ramsay may have been my first but at least he let me have that. He wasn't the best but he was okay before everything. So, how was Gendry?"
Arya cringed. "Huge. Do people talk about sizes?"
Sansa giggled. "Only if they want to. It's fine if you don't."
Her sister sighed in relief. "It was great. He made me feel special. Wanted. Beautiful."
"That's good. That's what I want to hear. Your first time should be magical. Are you okay?" Sansa asked her.
"Hurts a little but nothing bad. He knew what he was doing." Arya blushed.
Her phone rang in her pocket and she showed Sansa the caller ID.
"Checking up on us. He's psychic," said Sansa with a small smile. "Answer it."
Arya did so, smiling when Jon's face appeared on the screen.
"Hello, ladies." He smiled back. His hair was wet and he looked back to where Neddy was being petted to sleep. "How're things over there?"
"The blizzard hasn't hit us yet," said Arya. "How's Ygritte's family?"
Jon smiled. "They're really nice. Very welcoming. They know your mother's side of the family. The Tullys came for dinner and... they accepted me."
The sisters shared a look.
"Grandad accepted you?" Sansa asked in shock. "But..."
"I know," smiled Jon. "They all more or less thanked me for being there for you guys. Uncle Edmure's coming next week to visit. I'm thinking of inviting Grandad and Grandma to visit with Brynden. Show them around the estate, give Arya more gifts and see you all."
"Wow. See, you have more family than you thought," Arya told him. "How's Edward?"
Sansa nodded. "Let him know his aunts miss him! And his Uncle Bran."
Jon turned back before looking at them again. "I will. Just wanted to check in. Update you about my lifelong 'feud' with the Tullys being broken. Good night. I love you."
"Love you, too," his sisters repeated happily. "Night, Jon," they said, hanging up.
"Shall we put a movie on?" Sansa asked.
Arya nodded. "I get to choose. And it's a horror one," she smirked.
Sansa rolled her eyes. "Go on, then! Set it up, I'll get Bran."
And the three siblings spent the remaining of the night in each other's company.