CATELYN

It was a glorious Sunday afternoon! You could actually see at least three rays of sunshine sneaking over the heavy clouds as if to remind people that the sun still existed in the cold rainy north.

As was the norm (after church of course) Sunday was Lazy Day at the Stark household. It was the only day the kids could go in and out of the house without permission, the day where Eddard left the house to play golf with his old buddy and came back a little bit on the tipsy side and the day that Catelyn Stark just sat on her patio lounge with her dirty martini in hand taking care of her garden.

Everyone was out, even the dogs save for Nymeria who was sleeping in front of Arya's bedroom door. The girl must have left her room a mess and locked the door again so I wouldn't see anything. I have got to talk to Ned again about that one!

The doorbell rang and after a few seconds Catelyn had to remind herself that she was alone! There were always so many people inside the house that every time someone different opened the door. She was surprised however at who was behind it.

"Morning Mrs. Stark"-

"Good Morning Gendry! What did my daughter forget now?" Catelyn chuckled letting the young boy in.

"Uhmmm she isn't here?"- He said nervously looking up in confusion that was shared by Cat herself.

"Well no... no one is here but me. I just assumed she went out." On cue Nymeria whined upstairs. Her dog is crying and her best friend doesn't know where she is. Something is wrong; Catelyn thought running up the stairs followed closely by Gendry.

Nymeria wiggled her tail once she saw Gendry but refused to step out of the way until Catelyn managed to open the door. Of course the room was a mess but that could be discussed later since Arya was lying on her bed looking pale and sickly.

"Mommy?"- It wasn't the horse voice that alarmed Catelyn but the term of endearment that gave her red flags. She adored her baby girl but let's be honest; Arya only was nice when she was sick.

"Honey? What wrong? Do you feel sick?" Catelyn was immediately on Mom mode checking her pulse, touching her forehead, puffing up her pillows.

"My throat hurts and I can't breathe well"- Arya said with tears on her eyes that looked bloodshot.

"Here; take this!"- Catelyn had completely forgotten about the boy who had materialized a thermometer and a tall glass of water. At seeing him Arya immediately began to cry.

"Gen... I don't feel good!"- She cried as Gendry quickly hopped in bed beside her and with extreme caution as if she would break held her close to him.

"Shhh don't talk! You'll be ok, we'll take care of you"- He said rocking her gently back and forth.

"Oh my, she's burning up in fever" Catelyn said looking at the thermometer, it read 102°F. "Let me go get her some meds in the kitchen"

"It's ok Mrs. Stark, I'll go get them"-

"No! Don't leave!"- Arya sobbed making them both feel lost at seeing her so vulnerable.

"It's ok Gendry you stay with her while I go grab the medicine and some more blankets"

A couple of hours later...

"God dammit Ned; nobody is picking up their phone! Call me as soon as you hear my messages"

"Mrs. Stark?"- Gendry interrupted Catelyn's pacing in the kitchen.

"What happened, did my daughter wake up? Does she want anything?"

"No but it's been a couple of hours and her fever isn't going down. I really think we should get her to a hospital"-

"I know... I think so too but Eddard isn't picking up his phone, God knows where the boys are, Sansa is in Highgarden for the weekend..." Catelyn said starting to cry a bit of her own.

"I can take her! You know I'm a good driver and I swear I'll take care of her Mrs. Stark!"-

"Oh of course I know that Gendry"- Catelyn said now full on crying helpless that her husband didn't pick up his phone, helpless at seeing her fearsome child so broken down and a little bit ashamed that she had drank a bit more than a few martinis so she couldn't drive to the hospital herself. Gendry was just amazing! Bless his little heart. He went up and cradled Arya in his arms as he took her down the stairs and into his old pickup truck. You could tell that he was ashamed when Catelyn got in but she couldn't care less. After all of this was over she was going to make sure that boy had the latest, most modern car on his doorstep.

As they arrived at the hospital; doctors and nurses swarmed around Arya. It helped that the Starks were contributors but Catelyn couldn't care less, she just wanted her girl healthy. Soon they were at last faced with a diagnostic; Arya had a severe case of Tonsillitis and was in need of a surgery. Catelyn finally relaxed because she knew it was a routine surgery but Gendry finally broke down and sat cold faced in a chair.

"Gendry she'll be ok." She said holding his hand. He had been nothing but chivalrous and thoughtful the whole day so much that Catelyn had forgotten that he was a child as well.

"But she hates hospitals!"- He said zoned out. This time it was her time to comfort him.

Soon the hall was filled with familiar faces. Ned came practically more frantic than how Catelyn was demanding to see his little girl while explaining that his cellphone was out of service after Robert took then to an off the trail golf course. The boys also made their appearance with no excuse whatsoever. They just asked about Arya and kept their heads down; never a good sign.

The surgery was a success and soon they were kicked out because of the visitation hours. Only one was allowed to stay with her and Catelyn took that place after assuring all the anxious men around her that Arya was ok.

Thankfully Arya had a good night, not waking up once from the painkillers that the doctors assured would wear off rapidly. But the major surprise was when Catelyn woke up there was Gendry; sitting beside Arya over the other side of the bed.

"Good Morning Mrs. Stark! I hope you don't mind that I came this early. Here; here's some coffee my aunt made, not that hospital shi... stuff"- He blushed lowering his head.

"Thank you Gendry, that was so thoughtful of you. Please; don't think for a second I don't want you here but how did you get pass the nurses? It isn't visitation hours yet" God Lord; Catelyn looked at her clock. It was six am. Not only was it early but Gendry had to go to school today.

"Uhmmmm I may or may have not flirted my way in. Please don't tell Arya that; she'll tease me till the day I die if she found out"-

"Gendry I'm sure Arya will be more than please to know how you took care of her. I can never thank you enough but you need to go to school"

"Of course! I just wanted to see if she woke up and I uhm, I also brought her stuff so she wouldn't feel so uncomfortable at the hospital" Behind him was a small brown paper bag and Catelyn couldn't help but smile. So cute!

"We'll I asked the nurses what the post op would be and they told me that Arya won't be able to talk for a couple of days so, I'm already regretting this one but here's an Etch A Sketch so she can communicate better"-

"Gendry that was so thoughtful. Thank you from behalf of my daughter!"

"It's no big deal Mrs. Stark... Also I looked up tonsillitis on the internet and it says that she can have problems with regular foods so I already tried to sneak in some food but the nurses drew the line on that one but I walked around the hospital and they have some pretty smooth foods, gelatin's and ice-pops up in geriatrics"

"Gendry..." Catelyn said going around to face him and giving him a kiss on the forehead making him blush. "I am about to call the Principal of the school and also give you a sick day. Stop making me fall in love with young man, I'm a married woman!"

That seemed to do the trick as Gendry was a mumbling mess quickly excusing himself out of the room not before Catelyn noticed there was something left inside of the bag he brought.

"What is this?" She said taking out an old t shirt that was inside.

"Uhm... Mrs. Stark please remember that we kind of shared a moment just now so pleased don't freak out!"- Ok, this was going to be interesting.

"Arya somehow has managed to steal my old shirts to sleep in, she always says they're comfortable and I brought her one so she could feel more at ease. I mean I know it's creepy; your daughter sleeping in my clothes? but I swear there's nothing going on between us I mean she's sleeping with me not with my shirts. Shit! That came out wrong; the shit! I mean the swearing! I... I don't sleep with your daughter! She's a virgin a I swear but I only know because she told me and I..."-

"GENDRY!" Catelyn had to raise her voice to take the boy out of his suffering making Arya flinch but thankfully not enough to wake her.

"It's ok... you want her to be as comfortable as possible. If you where dishonoring my daughter you wouldn't be here so calm down. Again thank you for all you've done and now for these lovely gifts but still; school time young man!"

"Of course"- Gendry mumbled practically running out of the room.

...

Arya had to spend the next two days in the hospital for routine check ups. Everyday Gendry had brought her homework and let Arya write cursed words at him on her Etch A Sketch while he spent as much as time as he could there. On the last day it safe to say that Arya was the same girl who'd cursed like a sailor and that punched you if she liked you. She desperately wanted to leave because apparently there was a tv show playing on the cinemas and the rest of the Stark brood where going to see it.

"Well this is a nice chase of pace. You look dashing in colors Jon and may I say you look dangerous in black Robb"- Catelyn said greeting the boys at the cafeteria.

"Please Woman respect the one true King of Westeros; Jon King of the North while you may address me by my full tittle The 998th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch"- Rob roared in some character she didn't know.

"Do I have to ask?" She said gesturing to Theon.

"Queen Regent; Cersei Lannister... please don't bow!"- He said full in drag with a horrible blond wig.

"How's Arya? We wanted to come see her before we went to the movies so she could check out our outfits"- Jon said struggling to keep his crown strait.

"She's alright. Eager to get out. She's in her room playing scrabble with Gendry"

"About Gendry..."-Rob said playing with his dark haired wig. "I mean; isn't Arya ok now? Why is he spending so much time in here? He isn't even going with us and he freaking loves that show"-

"So what if he's staying keeping her company?"- Jon asked

"Yes Robert? Whatever is wrong with that?" Catelyn asked appalled at the mere slight at the boy who had been nothing but a saint throughout this whole ordeal.

"Because if I recall all three of you have been noticeably absent these past few days and do I have to ask why I saw you getting here by bus? Robb where is your car?"

"What? A helpless maiden on top of a tower? We must make haste men or woman. Away, away!"- Robb said running away with Theon, far, far away from the explanation of were his car was.

"Do I want to know?"

"No one knows"- Jon chuckled. "Give my love to Arya"-

Catelyn finally went back to her daughter's room when she found a bunch of nurses huddled up peaking through the window.

"I'm sorry is everything ok with my daughter?" She said alarmed but quickly calmed down as one of the nurses turned around with a smile on her face.

"Oh it's just that boy your daughter's managed to snatch up! He's so darn adorable"- They all nodded in unison as they continued to gush over the window.

Inside Arya was scowling up a storm with a very well written 'stupid bull' across her Etch A Sketch. On her head a was crown of blue roses and Gendry was laughing at her taking pictures on his cellphone.

Yes; when they went back to the house Catelyn was going to have a serious conversation with Arya. About the birds, about the bees and about she'd better treat Gendry right or she'll marry them off herself.

Tomorrow's chapter : Jon
Feel free to leave your review