Authors note: I am so sorry for the long wait on a update. I've got three Jonsa stories going and I've got an idea for a fourth but I want to finish one up before I start another. I usually update the ones that get the most reviews. I had a out of town wedding, I got hand food and mouth disease, my pops is having open heart surgery, and we got a two week eviction notice so we are also moving. It's been stressful. But I haven't forgotten, this one is still one of my faves. But if you get bored waiting for me to update feel free to check out any of my other Jonsa stories, I have two others then this one. One is a what If alternate universe that still meets the same events just different time, and the other is like this but the anguish between Jon and Sansa is spready out a lot longer of them not fully coming together or knowing they are cousins and the guilt they feel.

Chapter 16: Farewells so sweet

Jon and Sansa sat upon their horses, trying to steady them as they rode through their ranks together: a unit. Dragon and Wolf. The North had found a true pair to lead them, their union rallied the men and gave them spirit as they remembered what they were going to be fighting for back home. Bran was now the key along with Sam to how they would defeat the walkers in battle, the long night was yet ahead of them and fear was easy to come by in large supply. Jon took comfort in knowing that his marriage to Sansa gave the men the spark they need to continue with their journey back home. Many knew men from Kingslanding and they were now a readied army.

Jon looked at Sansa, she sat tall and she looked brave, but he could see a sparkle of fear in her eyes. A look only he could recognize, a look that might have been mistaken for bravery by others. Sansa had learned to hide her pain and fear well, to where it like a protective mask. He knew Sansa more intimately then anyone, when she looked at him she gave a weak smile and he knew it was more for his benefit then hers.

"I'll protect you, you know that, right?" Jon asked reaching over to squeeze her hand.

"Of course, we will protect each other," Sansa smiled, love filing her gaze. She looked back over the seemingly never ending supply of men between the Northerners who journeyed with them, the soldiers of Kingslanding, and the army Danny had brought. Jon had spent some time with his aunt trying to help her adjust to her arrival in the city. She seemed to want to make so many changes that the people were having a hard time seeing her as a queen, many were starting to talk of Jon and Sansa ruling all of Westeros, Jon tried to assure his aunt he would not usurp her but he could feel the tension. She was his last living family, the only link to his real lineage and he treasured that, "are you sure there is enough?"

"Between the letters I've received from Sam and some of his theories, we should have a fair fight, but I need Bran to confirm if any of this is possible," Jon let out a deep breath, "battles have been won at lessor odds, we have a fair match, and the northerners our tough."

"What if we fail?" Sansa couldn't hide the crack in her voice from Jon, he leaned over making his horse slightly step sideways at the shift in weight and touched her cheek, looking deep into her eyes.

"Nothing will happen to you, or our children," Jon was sincere, there was no falter in his words, "I've made other precautions should the battle go not in our favor. We are strong, Sansa. We are Northerners, and this will not be our last Winter. My love for you will always bring me back, and our love will keep our children strong. Safe."

"I love you, Jon," Sansa shook, she tried to not lose her cool, Jon was so brave and his face never gave way to any fear. She envied his ability to keep a brave face.

"I Love you, Sansa, more than my own life," Jon sat back up but his eyes did not leave his wife's, "we need to finish packing, we march at first light. I need to meet with Davos and the others, Brienne and Aria will accompany you to our chambers, "you also need to decide what you will do with Cersei, you can leave her to rot in the dungeons if you wish, or you can have a quick death or a gory one, but we must decide before the night's end."

"Yes, you're right my love," Sansa smiled at him, she knew he needed her to smile to continue with the work ahead of him. His burden was larger than hers, and she use to be so blind to it… she was selfish and childish, wanting to feel important in the decision making. Now she was glad to not carry the burden, she was tired, and her road long. Jon hesitated a moment steadying his horse before he road down towards the commander's tents were. He had already sent many men to The Wall to help defend it, not just criminals, but good soldiers who could train the others.

Sansa rode back to the castle where Brienne and Arya were sparring, Arya though quite good had learned a lot from the large woman soldier. Sansa watched her sister wondering what would become of them, the last of the remaining Stark children would soon be together… but for how long. Sansa placed a hand on her swollen belly, what would become of her children? What back up did Jon have planned, did he have a safety net for if he should die and the war to save humanity failed. What would life be like on the run from the White Walkers, how long could they last after human kind is wiped out? Sansa shuttered feeling the little taps against her stomach, almost as if to tell her they were there with her… and protecting her. She wondered where Melisandre had gone, she wished she could council her some more, but she had gone on a journey to discover more about the children within Sansa. Sansa knew deep down she could feel the pressure from Jon and Davos on Melisandre, and secretly she was angry for driving her away in a time of need, all she could do was clean to the Lord of Lights disciple on her promise to return to her before the need grew high.

Sansa climbed down from her black mare and gently stroked her neck, it grew more and more difficult for her to ride these days the larger she grew. The horse gently snorted and placed her muzzle on Sansa's shoulder, almost like she knew Sansa was afraid. She had never grown attached to a horse, they came and went so frequently, but Jon had just gotten this beautiful mare for her as a wedding gift. Large and beautiful this mare exceeded her expectations, well behaved and even tempered, she knew it was Jon's way of keeping Sansa safe on horseback. She knew for the journey home though; she would spend most of the trip in a carriage. It was customary for a woman to stop riding horses after becoming pregnant, but Sansa hated the idea of giving up her freedom, so this was Jon's compromise. She could ride for an hour a day at a walk, but any more than that and Jon would worry.

"Lady Sansa," Brienne bowed her head in curtsy, "are you feeling well?"

"Yes, thank you, I was told that it is time to prepare to leave," Sansa smiled looking between her and Arya. Arya looked annoyed but for once not with Sansa, "does something bother you Arya?"

"I don't want to talk about it," Arya said swinging her sword back and forth. Sansa sighed not wanting to pry.

"Will you talk to me about it later?" Sansa wanted to be closer to her sister, they had lost so much family that Arya was the closest connection to the life that was stolen from them.

"Maybe," Arya said with attitude.

"Shall we pack?" Brienne said sensing the tension. Sansa nodded, letting Brienne escort her.

It wasn't long before they were finished packing, ordering the servants to send their belongings down to the carriages. Sansa sorted through the many gifts she had received from Lords and even commoners to celebrate their union. Many beautiful baby outfits and toys, it made her pregnancy that much more real. Sansa sat down on her bed and sighed, one thing weighting heavy on her conscious. A part of her wanted to see Cersei burn on a pike for what she had done to her family, but she didn't want to start their rule by showing such cruelty. An idea came into her head, one that she felt both cruel and yet justified. She sent Brienne for Arya.

Cersei sat on the cold floor of the dungeon, crusts of bread molding before her. The hair that had grown back was matted and full of dirt clumps. She did not look like the queen she previously was. Cersei woke to the sound of something stirring in the dark corners of the dark cold dungeon. She called out asking who was there but got no response. She jumped when something touched her shoulder. Cersei couldn't believe her eyes when she saw Myrcella her only daughter standing beside her.

"Myrcella?" she asked shakily, reaching out as she tried to get up. She smacked her hand away from her.

"You did this, to me, mother," she said glaring at her, "you killed me. You killed Tommen, you killed your children."

"No, that isn't true," Cersei shook her head backing away realizing it was a ghost, "I'm sorry Tommen I am so sorry…"

"It's too late," he said rushing at her, his hands wrapping around her face, "you pushed until we broke. I was more happy surrounded by strangers then I was living with you…"

"No, I didn't mean to, I loved you," Cersei cried not pushing her away. But she just released her and backed up, backing into the shadows, "no please! No come back! My baby…"

"You didn't deserve children, you were wicked," a voice came from another shadow, walking out Loras appeared, his beautiful youth taken by her, "you are evil, Cersei Lannister."

"Loras?" she backed into a wall shaking. Her demons were coming back to haunt you.

"Every bad thing you've done, every wicked command you made," Loras chuckled he was now nose to nose with her, "you will burn in fire for eternity for…"

"You were just a casualty, I had nothing against you," Cersei cried trying to look away from him, her body shaking so hard she felt like vomiting.

"There was a lot of casualties with you as queen," Loras growled, spitting at her feet, "the queen of death is your legacy… and then like that, your name will be wiped from the world. No one will remember you. No one will morn you. No one will Miss you."

"Leave me alone!" Cersei screamed as she fell to the grown hugging her nears, trying to hide her face. Before she knew it, another voice echoed off the cold stone walls. She felt her heart drop into her stomach she recognized the voice before seeing his face.

"Eddard Stark," Cersei finally looked up to see him nose to nose in front of her.

"Your demons come to take you today, Cersei Lannister," Ned said staring at her with empty eyes, "you finally get what you deserve. So many victims at your hand. I should have killed you…"

"Yes, you should have," Cersei growled, "all of this… I lost everything because of you!"

"No, you lost everything because of your sins," Ned smiled wickedly, "you fucked your brother, you birthed his bastards and crowned them kings. You fucked, you lied, you murdered, you were nothing but a whore with a crown."

"What?" Cersei was surprised by the things he said.

"Death comes for all of us, today is your day," Ned smiled nodding, "deaths had his eye on you for a while. Haven't you felt his cold claws around your throat since you were but a young girl? You've been dead a long time… dead on the inside. Inside of you is nothing but rotting maggot filled disease, your womb was condemned with death before you could conceive. Your first born was lucky to die in his infancy, the others were cursed with death at a young age because of your nasty and wickedness. I tried to save you, I tried to spare you, but I didn't realize there was no saving you. The devil laughed as you danced his little dance, confirming your seat by his side."

"No!" Cersei screamed finally looking up about to push him but he was already gone. Cersei let out a few loud sobs before leaning back into the wall. Terror filled her, her body trembled, and she began to throw up.

"Mother?" his voice rang like bells, making Cersei look up.

"Tommen?" she cried out looking around for him, "Tommen I'm here…"

"Mother, where are you?" his voice echoed around her. She crawled away from the wall as she searched for him. Cersei jumped when she heard him say mother again by her ear. She looked at him in shock, "you killed me…"

"No Tommen, I didn't," she cried, "you jumped…"

"Because of you…" he looked down at her pathetic form on the floor, "I thought I was protecting you."

"You killed me slowly… day by day until I couldn't stand being in a world you were in…" his voice dripped with venom.

"I didn't mean to," she cried rocking herself.

"Now you will be the devils whore," he crouched down beside her as he whispered into her ear, "are you ready to die now mother?"

"No," she sobbed, "I just want you back."

"I won't be where you're going mother, he is ready for you," he smiled as he whispered in her ear, "you killed your children."

"I want to be with you," she sobbed looking up at him, "all I ever wanted was to protect my children."

"Murderers don't get happy endings," Tommen sighed, "it's time. Death has called for you one last time."

"No, please, don't leave me," Cersei wrapped her arms around Tommen, he let her have the embrace before reaching up and placing his hand around her neck. She looked at him with terror, as she realized, his cold hand clutching at her as the other hand reached up closing off her oxygen. Cersei's eyes grew wide as she clawed at him, trying to gasp for air but getting nothing. She tried harder to no avail, and finally the light left her eyes as he whispered…

"Now you can destroy no more families, you can't hurt anyone ever again," his voice was soft and bitter, and then she was gone. Tommen released his grip from her throat, letting her lifeless body hit the floor with a loud thud. He watched her for a moment before walking to the door where he saw two blue eyes watching him.

"Are you alright?" Sansa asked as Tommen reached for his face removing it, "Arya?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," she said nodding, she couldn't deny she wanted that so badly.

"Are you sure, it's a heavy thing taking a life," Sansa grabbed Arya's shoulders, and looked her deep in the eyes.

"Only if they don't deserve it, she got what she deserved," Arya didn't show any hint of regret of feeling upset, "I've dreamed of strangling her for so many nights… this was better, her own son strangles her. Its poetic really…"

"Arya?" Sansa asked as Arya walked past her. She realized at that moment Arya was as messed up and scarred as she and Jon were. But Sansa had Jon, and Jon had her… who would heal Arya?

"Little Bird," The hound said walking down the hall seeing Arya walking past him not saying anything, he stopped in front of her and peered through the window of the door she stood next to, "good, the nasty bitch is dead."

"Yes, Sandor, she is," Sansa strangely felt remorse, perhaps what they had done had gone a little far. But then again she was responsible for the death of every one of her family members, "what's wrong with the runt?"

"I don't know," Sansa stared at the wall trying to keep herself from throwing up between morning sickness and nerves.

"Did she kill queen cunt?" he asked looking at Sansa worried. Sansa nodded yes as she placed a hand to her mouth to try and keep it all in, "ah, she just needs to process. You need to get to the carriages. The King wants to leave."

"Are you coming with?" Sansa asked swallowing hard as she tried to steady herself.

"Aye, like I'd leave you alone, let alone miss out on a good fight," Sandor shrugged, "do I need to carry her ladyship?"

"No, thank you," Sansa laughed slightly before shaking her head. She then followed the hound out to where any lord or royal traveling would be packing. Jon stood there waiting by the carriage, she hadn't seen him all day and it felt like it had been all week, "Jon!"

"Sansa," he said breathless as he took her in his arms, "what took you so long?"

"I finished up what needed finishing," she said looking up at him, his arms still wrapped around him. His soft lips landed down on hers. She embraced it willingly, meeting his kisses with her own. She couldn't have felt any happier unless all her family were to come back to life, but this was as close to family as she would get. Her husband, her babies, and her remaining siblings, "I'm ready now… husband."

"Aye, I love hearing that," he smiled and Sansa felt like his smile would melt her into pieces, "wife."

"I think you gave me the chills," she laughed looking up into his dark eyes.

"Cute, now can we leave?" Arya asked snapping at them.

"Aye, milady," Jon teased putting his hands in the air as if he gave up.

"Ignore her," Sansa said shaking her head in disapproval, "you can continue to flatter your wife now…"

"Aye, my queen," he said kissing her jaw and then kissing her forehead. She practically purred, loving the way he touched her.

"If only we had a few more moments to spare," Sansa said as enticing as she could.

"Oh, how you tease me my love," he said looking down at he with desire.

"Sansa!" Arya called from in the carriage. Sansa rolled her eyes and sighed.

"Looks like I am being beckoned," Sansa smiled at Jon.

"You ready?" he asked gently stroking the end of her chin.

"I'll follow you anywhere, I'll go anywhere with you," she said looking up into his eyes. It was hard to fight her feelings when he made it hard for her to breath, she couldn't help but be caught up in the moment with him… caught up in his smile.

"As I'd follow you anywhere," he kissed her again, enjoying the warmth of her lips, the heat of her breath.

"I wish I had known so much sooner you were the one I had been waiting for all my life," she said watching his face, watching the breeze play with the curls that weren't pulled back into a half ponytail.

"Aye, me as well," he assured her, "how different things could have been. If only father, your father, had told us all so much sooner I wasn't his son after all."

"How different it would have been," Sansa said looking down at the ground, but he grabbed her chin lifting her gaze back up to his.

"We were meant to be, we would have always found a way to each other. We will always find our way to one another. I will always find you no matter where you are, Sansa Stark," he said seriously, "I will not be far from your carriage, Brienne and the hound will be on each side of the carriage, you can send one of them to get me if at any time you need me, even just for a kiss…"

"Is that so?" she teased biting her lip trying to tease him.

"Aye," he smiled softly again before kissing her, "it's time for us to go home."

"I'm ready," she wrapped her arms around him again as he pulled her in tight inhaling the sweet smells in her hair before bending down to kiss her protruding belly.

"You and our babies, you're my family, I will protect you," he said against her belly before standing up again to kiss her once more before quickly pulling away. He knew if he didn't he would never leave her to lead the army towards the north. Sam would be meeting them in the middle of their journey to update him, so he had to stay on schedule. Sansa stood there as she watched her husband dressed in black walking away from her. She couldn't help but feel her heart drop into her stomach as he left her there.

"Milady," Brienne said offering her hand as she opened the door to see an annoyed Arya.

"Hello? Can we go already?" Arya was super snappy, confusing Sansa.

"Lady Arya," Brienne warned giving her a look.

"Sorry," Arya muttered under her breath before crossing her arms and looking out the window, something was bugging that Stark girl. Sansa sat across from her, watching her, "What?"

"Nothing," Sansa shrugged.

"Your staring at me Sansa," Arya said sighing loudly.

"What's crawled up your butt Arya?" Sansa asked with a smile, but Arya just glared at her, "where is Gendry… you've been attached at the hip. Is he riding with the men?"

"Don't ask me about that egg head," Arya crossed her arms again and looked out the window as the carriage moved shoving them backwards and forwards with the force of it. The sound of horse hooves on stone rang loudly.

"Ahhh, I see now, boy problems?" Sansa chuckled making Arya's eyes widen, "Gendry…"

"I don't want to talk about that traitor," Arya said still watching the houses and businesses passing them by. Memories flooding back to her of their time there as little girls.

"Are you sure?" Sansa stopped smiling and became serious, "did he hurt you?"

"No," Arya didn't look at her sister.

"Arya, please, talk to me," Sansa begged. Arya sighed.

"I heard him talking with Poddrick, he thinks the Dragon queen is beautiful," Arya said sighing again.

"Well, she is," Sansa said as gently as she could, "I know Jon thought so first meeting her even though she is aunt. I worried that I'd lose him to her."

"But he chose you…" Arya said looking at Sansa now.

"Yes," Sansa nodded.

"Poddrick asked why he didn't ask her to marry him, he is the last son of the Baratheon King… it would help her hold her grasp on Kings landing," Arya tried mocking Poddrick's voice, "he once told me that I'd be his lady…"

"What did Gendry respond to this?" Sansa asked curiously.

"I didn't stick around, I took off to go beat up something," Arya shrugged looking back out the window.

"Well maybe you should ask him, talk to him, find out how he feels. Arya, they can't read our minds, we have to be as transparent as possible," Sansa laughed slightly, "does he even know how you feel?"

"I don't know, I try to hint," Arya crumpled her face in confusion, "I never wanted to be anyone's lady, I never wanted to have to have anyone's children… but I would for him."

"Talk to him Arya, if you don't and he offers marriage to the Dragon queen, cause let's be honest, Poddrick isn't wrong about it strengthening her hold, you will regret never telling him," Sansa watched her sisters face. She never thought she would have these kinds of conversations with Arya, her little sister was to wild, and Sansa was poised and refined and didn't care about anyone but herself back then, "promise me you will at least talk to him?"

"Yes," Arya muttered, symbolizing her being tired of talking. Sansa decided she could use a nap, the journey would be long and slow. She needed as much sleep as she could get. Their journey would not be easy, and death was ahead of them waiting…