Chapter 24

Jon Snow Stark POV

Dany and I's anniversary is this week, it feels so weird to have been with someone for a year. It doesn't feel like a year, but at the same time it feels like I've known her forever. I'm going to surprise her at her place tonight for an early anniversary celebration, I feel like she won't be expecting it.

I show up at her place with her gift. I had a necklace made for her with DJ as the charms. I also brought some food so that I could cook for her, I thought that would be romantic.

"Jon?" She says as she opens the door after I knock on it. "What are you doing here?"

"Happy anniversary," I say, giving her a kiss. "I hope it's okay that I'm here."

"Of course," she says. "I told you I wasn't doing anything." I texted her to make sure she had no plans so I knew if it was a good time to come surprise her. I walk in the house and set the stuff on the kitchen counter.

"What's all this?" She asks me. "Our anniversary isn't for another week."

"I wanted to cook dinner for you," I say. "I wanted to surprise you for our anniversary."

"You're amazing," she says. "I don't have anything for you."

"That's okay, I wanted to surprise you. I didn't expect anything in return." She smiles at me, but I can tell she feels guilty. I wish she would just let me do nice things for her without feeling like she owes me something in return.

"How is volunteer work going?" I ask her as we're sitting down to eat.

"It's going good," she says. "I went to the homeless shelter today."

"Were they nice to you?"

"Definitely, they always are. They know me by now." There's a pause as we continue eating.

"This is really good, Jon," she says to me. "Thank you so much."

"Do you want to open your gift?" I ask her.

"This isn't it?"

"Nope, I got something else for you." I get up, get the box, and hand it to her. As she opens it, a smile appears on her face.

"Aw, D&J for Dany and Jon," she says. "Thank you, I love it. You're the best."

"I can't be," I say. "You are." She shakes her head and leans forward, kissing me. I really love her, making her happy brings so much joy into my life.

Jaime Lannister POV

I'm hanging out with Bronn and Jorah again tonight, even though Cersei wanted me to stay home with her. I felt bad leaving, but they invited me to play games in their dorm room. I'm in the bathroom washing my hands when I hear Bronn and Jorah walking down the hallway.

"So, did you ever hook up with Cersei?" I hear Jorah ask Bronn. "Are you making any progress with that?"

"Nah," Bronn says. "It's not going to happen."

"Why not? You were so set on it."

"Jaime talked me out of it," Bronn says. "It's not a good idea."

"What does he care?"

"He's her brother, he's protective of her."

"I know," Jorah says. "But that never would've stopped you before."

"Look," Bronn says. "It's a little more complicated than that. There's more going on in that relationship." He's not about to tell Jorah…

There's a pause. "You mean—" Jorah says. "Are they—?" Bronn shushes him.

"I promised him I wouldn't say anything," Bronn says. "And you won't either." Their voices get quieter as I hear them walk away from the bathroom.

I can't believe he did that. That's the last time I trust anyone besides Cersei or Tyrion. What if Jorah or Bronn tell more people? I know Cersei would be livid if she knew either of them knew.

I don't even go back to their room, I just walk back to Cersei and I's apartment. I'm debating what to say to her when I walk in, but I'm stopped when I see her lying on the floor with bottles around her.

"Cersei," I say walking over to her and leaning down. "Cersei, are you okay?" She's asleep, but she's waking up.

"What?" She asks groggily. "What time is it?"

"It's 11," I say. "When did you start drinking?"

"Right after you left." She sits up and immediately starts puking.

"God, Cersei!" I yell. I get up to get her a trash can, and she pukes more in that. "Cersei, you can't keep doing this. I can't be worrying about you every time I leave." I help her up and she stumbles, but I catch her before she falls.

I feel my phone buzzing, so I pull it out of my pocket and look at it. Tyrion is calling me. I want to pick up, but I can't. I have to deal with Cersei right now.

"Let's get you in the shower," I say. "You need to clean up."

"Will you come with me?"

"Of course." We get into the shower, and I tuck her into bed afterwards. I meant to call Tyrion back, but I'm so exhausted I just fall asleep next to Cersei. I wish I knew how to help her more, I wish I knew why she was doing this.

Daenerys Targaryen POV

Jon and I are relaxing in my room after dinner. I'm laying on my bed, and he's sitting at my desk writing something down. I can't believe he surprised me for our anniversary, I really wasn't expecting it. I obviously knew our anniversary was coming up, but I wasn't sure if that was something he put a lot of weight into.

"I'm worried about Sansa," I say to Jon. "She seems to not be doing that well."

"What do you mean?" He asks me.

"I never see her eat anymore," I say. "And if I do, she barely eats anything and picks at her food. I've struggled with the same kind of thing, I can see her exhibiting the same signs."

"I've noticed that, too," Jon says. "I noticed it more last year. I tried to talk to her about it, and she just ended up screaming at me."

"She's probably self conscious, but it's something I've noticed for a while, too. She passed out during a basketball game last year?"

"What? How come I didn't know about this?"

"Your mom knew," I say. "And I think things got better after that. I'm sorry I never told you."

"It's okay," he says. "It's not your job, I just worry about her. I feel like when I try to help her, she just shuts me out."

"I know it seems like she's just being rude, but I understand why she does that. She's struggling, and I don't blame her after what she went through with Ramsay."

"I don't know why she didn't tell me about Ramsay," he says. "I would have immediately helped her."

"She was probably ashamed," I say. "She probably didn't want you to know she was having sex."

"Well I do too," he says. "Granted, I wasn't having sex at her age."

"Exactly, maybe she didn't want to feel judged."

"I feel like being coerced into sex by Ramsay Bolton is a heavier price to pay." He really doesn't get it, I wish he was more empathetic towards Sansa. I know he means well, but I honestly don't blame her for not being open with him.

"What are you writing?" I ask him after a pause.

"The times we can see each other next year while we're in school," he says, turning around. "I figured we could spend Labor Day weekend together, and maybe a couple weekends in between before Thanksgiving."

"You're already thinking about that?" I ask him. "It's only March."

"I know, but I want to have a game plan for when we're both in college. I want to make sure I see you as much as possible."

"That's so sweet," I say as he walks over to me and I kiss him. "I love you." We start kissing in bed, and his shirt is off before I know it.

He stops kissing me. "I didn't bring any condoms," he says. "Do you have any?"

"No," I say. "But you know I'm on birth control, I take it religiously."

"I don't know if we should, I wouldn't want to take any unnecessary risks."

"We'll only do what you want to do," I say. "I just want you to know that the risk isn't much greater., and you better not be sleeping with anyone else. I'm definitely not." I chuckle, I'm joking. I know he's only sleeping with me. He looks at me for a second, and then we start making out again. I figured he wouldn't turn me down.

Sansa Stark POV

Margaery is picking me up and we're going to the treehouse to smoke weed. It's been so long since I've been there, I haven't been since I was with Ramsay and we hooked up there. Margaery pulls up and honks, and I head towards the door.

"Where are you going?" My mom asks.

"To hang out with Margaery," I say. "I thought I told you."

"You definitely didn't. Are you just going to her house?"

"Yes."

"Will her grandmother be there?"

"Yes, mom."

There's a pause. "Fine," she says. "But be back by 11." I head out the door and get into Margaery's car.

"Sorry," I say after getting in the car. "My mom was up my butt about where I was going." She just laughs and we head to the treehouse.

"It's been a while since we've been up here," Margaery says while we're smoking in the treehouse. "It feels weird."

"Yeah," I say. "It was my birthday last year. This is where Ramsay went down on me for the first time."

"Oh wow, this is actually where I lost my virginity."

"Woah, for real?" I'm shocked. "So I guess this is where Ramsay takes all his girls."

"I guess so," Margaery says. "By the way, I'm sorry about what happened with him. I know it was a shitty situation, I just think you need to move on."

"I'm trying," I say. "It's just been hard."

"Well it's been a year, it's time to find new dick."

I laugh at that. "I'll let you know when I see one I like," I say. "Speaking of dick, how are things with Gendry?"

"His dick is great," she says. "Trust me."

"Ew, that's not what I meant. Are things going well for you guys?"

"Oh, for sure. I'm really glad I'll be in town after I graduate. I really want to do everything I can to stay with him." There's a pause.

"How are things with Dany and Jon?" Margaery asks me.

"Good, I think," I say. "They're anniversary is coming up."

"Damn, really?" I just nod. "I didn't expect them to last this long."

"Really, why?"

"I don't know," Margaery says. "She just seemed to like the idea of him more than him as a person, like she liked the fantasy of him. But I guess they're proving me wrong."

"I hope they stay together," I say. "I love Dany."

"I do too, I want her to be happy."

I wish Margaery wasn't so critical of everyone. She always says how much she never liked Cersei, but there are times when she acts more like her than she thinks. She's just so critical of me, and I feel like I'm never good enough for her. I feel like I'm never good enough for anyone.