Jaime stayed awake for a while as Arya was falling back asleep in his arms. He didn't know when he might get a chance to be close to her again after this. Maybe tomorrow she would hate him again. She had said she needed him and that was a huge step he knew. The truth was, he needed her too. He had missed having someone to spar with, to tease, he had liked it when she was merely irritated with him. That had been an interesting challenge but this hatred... he wasn't sure he could handle being a failure in her eyes for the rest of his life. He had missed the way things were before. And he had missed kissing her….

When awoke the next morning her eyes were still closed. She was still nestled in his arms, closer than she had been before, her hands clinging to his tunic. He leaned a little closer and pressed a kiss to her forehead. She didn't move so he took a risk and pressed another brief kiss to her lips. After that he gently unravelled himself from her and left the bed.

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Kalla arrived just as Lord Jaime was leaving the chambers for breakfast. Arya was awake and nearly ready herself but she had chosen to wait to speak to her handmaid as promised before going down to the great hall.

"How did it go m'lady?" Kalla asked with a blush on her cheeks.

"There's no need to blush. Nothing like that happened." Arya told her.

"I must admit, I am sorry to hear that m'lady." Kalla teased her.

"Then you'll be happy to hear that he kissed me when he thought I was asleep."

"And?" Kalla picked up the hairbrush and started brushing Arya's hair.

"I already did that." Arya said, taking the brush from her. "Just sit and talk to me."

Kalla sat. "Did you hate it?" She asked worriedly.

"No. I didn't hate it. It was just a stupid kiss."

"Then why are you the one blushing now?" Kalla asked her boldly.

"Okay I did hate it. I hated his stupid kiss and I hate his stupid hugs after my nightmares and I hate his stupid face!"

"I know that isn't true." Kalla told her matter of factly. "No one hates Ser Jaime's face."

At that Arya burst out laughing and Kalla laughed with her.

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Arya was more courteous that day with Jaime than she had ever been. She was just full of "my lords" and "Sers" and never once spoke a word of anger. She didn't ignore him, as promised, but she had none of her usual attitude either. Jaime was pretty sure he had preferred her the way she was before.

She asked Ser Hiram to spar with her that day, not Jaime. He didn't complain or make any offers to join them. He only watched. She was much better at beating Ser Hiram than she had been with him. And Jaime knew that Hiram was a better knight than he was currently. There was a lot to be said for having her wits about her when she tried to fight. With Hiram she still had her sharp mind. With him she clearly did not.

Nearly another moon's turn passed in this manner. By day Arya was polite and distant with him. She didn't have nightmares every night but when she did, she slept in his arms afterwards. And every morning when he thought she was still asleep, Jaime kissed her.