Chapter 11: Need a second to breathe

For days Sansa had been resting, speaking with the others here and there, but she had needed a lot of sleep to get better. Between the healers there and the red woman her wound was slowly but surely healing. Jon did not leave her side, despite demands from the dragon queen. He couldn't stand the idea of being away from his love. How far they had come. It wasn't until Sansa told him to go away that he had finally gone back to his tent, to bathe and get a nap.

"Jon," Sansa said softly opening the flap of his tent door. It had been only a day but he felt like he hadn't seen her in weeks. He rushed the two military advisors out as she walked in still in white robes.

"Sansa, sit," he said rushing to her and helping her sit down, "how are you feeling?"

"Better," she smiled weakly, peering up at him with blue eyes. She seemed stronger.

"I'm glad to hear it," he said his hand gently resting on her face as he tried to feel if she was burning up.

"Truly Jon, you fuss, I'm better," she said shooing him away.

"Aye, Love, you are," he smiled a Jon only smile at her, but his eyes were sad.

"What's wrong?" Sansa asked crooking her head to the side. Almost as if she were challenging him, in her normal I know what's best way.

"You're too much, you know that right?" he chuckled at her softly, "I'm fine…"

"I asked what's wrong, Jon, not for you to lie to me," Sansa said sticking her nose into the air playfully.

"Aye, and I asked for you to stay in Winterfell, safe didn't I?" Jon said with the same sarcastic tone, "but NO… little stubborn Stark princess can't listen, can she?"

"No, she can't, because she doesn't do what she's told," she said scrunching her nose at him.

"No she doesn't! You could have gotten yourself killed, Sansa! You have to be smart right now…"

"Smart? Jon, I needed to be with you! You left me!" Sansa yelled back.

"There is a war going on!"

"I'm not blind!"

"You certainly act like it though!"

"Jon Snow!" Sansa yelled standing up but then faltering and grasping her wound with one hand and her chair with the other. Jon tried to rush to her side but she removed her hand from her would to put it in the air, telling him to stop.

"Sansa Stark…" Jon growled stopping in his tracks. How she could infuriate him but mesmerize him all in the same moment, "I need a second to breathe…"

"Jon, truly, you must know I wasn't challenging your authority," she said looking back up at him.

"Aye, I know… I just," he began to pace his hand on his forehead in contemplation, "I just wanted to you safe."

"Did you ever stop to consider I was safest with you?" she asked taking a step towards him.

"I couldn't, because that would have been me being selfish," he said taking her face in his hands, his dark curls falling loosely.

"Why don't you want me with you, Jon?" she asked softly, her blue eyes piercing his sharply, searching intently for an answer.

"How could you ask that? You can't truly think that?" he was almost knocked backwards by her accusation.

"You made me stay behind, and your mad I'm here. What else am I to think, Jon? Truly?" she asked trying to match his tone.

"I made you stay behind because I thought you were safer there, because you would have been a distraction for me. It turns out you being away was worst a distraction, all I thought about was kissing your lips, touching your hair, holding your hand, looking into those all-pervading soul stealing eyes of yours…"

"Big words, Jon," Sansa teased, her smiled faded when she saw the seriousness in his eyes.

"You being away was the hardest thing I've ever had to force myself to do, and I gave up women and family to take up the black," Jon smiled, his eyes creasing with a few lines starting to develop, "how could I ever tell you, explain to you how badly it hurt knowing you were so far. But I had to endure it, so I would know you were safe. But now that you're here, I can't let you leave…"

"Jon," Sansa said with tears in her eyes before reaching up to kiss him. His arms wrapped around her tightly pulling her as close to him as he could. They were interrupted by another guard who reminded Jon his aunt needed to see him. Sansa asked him what it was about and was stunned when Jon told her.

"We captured Jamie Lannister…"

Authors note: Hey everyone! You rock! Those are some of the best reviews ever! I look forward to joining you along this journey as things begin to unfold. Sorry for the short chapter I wanted to get something up before I went home to no internet, I don't work tomorrow night so no way to update… plus I will be a little slower. I've started another story. One based off the dream Jon told Sansa he had, the one about if they had fallen in love at Winterfell instead. If you're interested in reading it then you know where to find it ;)

Summary:

Summary: AU how much different things could have been, had Ned shared with his wife and family of Jon's true parentage. Jon is raised as Ned's son to all but to Catelyn and their children. When old enough to understand the importance of keeping Jon's heritage a secret, Ned and Catelyn would explain it to them. They would never reveal who the parents were, only that Jon was an adopted relative from a far off family. So what happens when a young Sansa falls for a handsome broody Jon Snow, their love to be tested by King Joffrey's desire for the young maiden… Jon is sent to the wall by the king only to take arms with Robb in the war to come, to save his country and get back his love. This takes place a couple years later then when the series' first starts out, so all the characters are a little older. This is obviously an AU reality…