As I write this, I am nursing a fever and a cold that is kicking my butt. But fear not, for I will give you as many chapters as I can within the next week!

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"Robb Stark is dead."

Melisandre nodded and looked out of the balcony at the sun rising above the sea, "He is and so is Catelyn Stark. How did you learn of it?" Stannis looked tired and needed to bathe, but here he sat, starring at the table before him, "I am unsure. We believe that Petyr Baelish sent the raven, but we cannot be sure." Melisandre shrugged, "Possibly, since he is still on good terms with the Lannister's, they most likely gave him news. Have you told her?" He shook his head, "Not yet. I left her in my solar, she still believes-"

"Why are you still here?You must rest and so should she. The more rest both of you get, the better it will be to break the news. Invite her to dinner and tell her then."

Stannis nodded and rubbed his face as he yawned, "You are right. No doubt she has retired to her chambers from my solar and is fast asleep now." He stood and stretched slightly, "I will send for her at dinner and perhaps then I will tell her. I will decide then."

...

Little did he know, Sansa was not fast asleep, but she was in fact wide awake. No rest had come to her after she found the letter in the hall and now she sat in silence, no candles lit, and only in her sleep shift in her cold room. Sansa sat up in bed, her tears still fresh on her face as she shivered and looked around her room. Her eyes were red and hot, stinging as she tried to leave her bed to get to her wash basin. The words from the letter still fresh in her mind and she spoke them aloud, "Robb and Catelyn Stark are dead. The North has fallen." She cried out and sat back on her bed in sadness and agony at those words.

A handmaidens soft knock on the door stopped her crying for just a moment, "My Lady, I have breakfast for you." Sansa's stomach turned as she thought of food and she hoarsely shouted, "I don't want it! Leave me be!" In that moment, she realized how childish she sounded and how if Arya would there, she would make fun of her for being as such, but Arya was not there. None of them were there and she was beginning to understand that she was indeed alone. A lone Stark in a world of Lions and Stags.

Stags.

Sansa looked up at the Baratheon sigil banner hanging in her chambers and for a moment it brought her comfort. She shook her head and laid back down in her bed, pulling the covers up to her chin as she rolled on her side. As thoughts of her mother, father, brothers and sister danced through her mind, Sansa cried herself to sleep in mere minutes. But just outside her door, the same handmaiden listened closely at the Lady Stark's cries and she sighed before rushing down the hall to bring breakfast to the princess.

...

The day went by quickly and Stannis had not heard a word from Sansa all day, which he found odd. But still, he sent his dinner invitation along and waited in the dinner hall for her with Davos keeping him company. He sat at his head of table and looked at Davos in the doorway, "Where is she? Why hasn't she come?" Davos shrugged, "I have not seen the Lady Stark all day, your grace. I believed she went to see the princess-"

"Your grace."

Both men saw a handmaiden in the doorway and she nervously cleared her throat, "Lady Stark has refused dinner, your grace. She has been locked in her room all day. I-I worry about her, your grace." Stannis stood, his chair falling back as he rushed past both Davos and the handmaiden, not saying a word to either. It took him only a few moments to reach her door and he knocked, "Sansa?" He heard no reply and knocked again, "Sansa! Open the door." He heard the clanking of keys and Davos pushed past him, "Your grace, how did you expect to get in there without a key?" Stannis would have hit anyone else for such attitude, but he was grateful for Davos in that moment.

The door was opened slowly and Stannis slowly walked into darkness, closing the door behind him to not allow anyone else entrance. He saw Sansa in the bed and he whispered, "Sansa?" He watched her move slightly and heard her sniff, "Why did you refuse dinner with me?" Sansa finally began to sob, "Leave me alone." Stannis had enough of her foolishness and he charged around the bed and looked at her, "What is all this? Look at you, girl! What is causing you to cry?" He grabbed her under her arms and pulled her up in the bed, "Listen to me, if you don't tell me-"

"You know why I'm crying. You know why I am so heartbroken!"

She reached for something next to her and threw it at him, "Read it again! Tell me I shouldn't be so upset." She watched Stannis slowly re-read the letter she found in the hall and she repeated the words, "Robb and Catelyn Stark are dead. The North has fallen." Stannis slowly looked at her and shook his head, "The North will never fall, Sansa, you know that." Sansa wiped her tears away, her eyes aching from crying nearly all day, "My brother and mother are dead. Murdered by the Frey's. There is no longer a Stark in Winterfell and the North has lost its King." Still she cried, as if there was no way to ever stop the tears again. Stannis reached out and wiped them away,

"You are still alive, Sansa."

Sansa allowed him to wipe her tears away with his long, rough fingers and she sighed, "I wish I were dead in this moment. They are all gone now-" Stannis suddenly grabbed her arms with both hands and shook her slightly, "Never say that again! Do you understand me? Never wish you were dead for as long as you are here for I cannot bear to think of it!" Sansa looked shocked and frightened at the same time, but her crying ceased at his outburst. Stannis calmed, but still his hands held her arms, "What has happened is tragic, but you must remain strong, Sansa. You may be the only Stark alive now and I vow before you to keep you safe."

"They will not stop until we are all dead and gone."

Stannis had to agree with her for she told no lies in that statement. He studied her face and saw her to be exhausted, scared, and weak in this moment. Being as gentle as he could, Stannis pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her shoulder and back, "I vow to keep you safe." Sansa rested her head on his shoulder and stared into the darkness of her chambers as she wrapped her arms around his middle. In an instant, she felt warmth and comfort in his hug, she felt safe. He began to pull away, but before she could say another word, he cupped her face in his hands and placed a kiss upon her lips. Sansa closed her eyes almost instantly, but what was just a small kiss upon the lips turned into something more. He did not stop at just one kiss and soon Sansa was kissing him back, his tongue gliding over her bottom lip, requesting entrance into her mouth.

Sansa became nervous, for this was no kiss she ever had before, but still, she let him kiss her as much as he wanted to, because in this moment she felt new feelings she never wanted to disappear. As suddenly as it began, Stannis stopped and pulled away, "I-I am sorry." He went to move away from her, but Sansa grabbed the front of his vest, "Don't." Stannis shook his head, "Not now. Not like this."

She was confused as he stood from the bed and began to pace, his fingers scratching at his face. Sansa whispered, "If I have offended you in any way,-" Stannis looked down at her and chuckled, "Oh, my dear girl, you have not offended me at all." She smiled as he knelt down in front of her, "The kiss we just shared, I will never regret, but I must explain to you now..." He trailed off as she grasped one of his hands in both of hers, he realized then how small her hands were, how perfect her skin felt against his and he shuddered.

"I want to give you everything, Sansa."

She looked confused, so he explained, "I will not take advantage of you, tonight, Sansa, for you are upset, but I can comfort you. Listen to me now, for I do not think you shall ever see me so weak in front of you again." He placed his other hand on top of hers, "I want to give you a home, Sansa. I want you to have the family you have always wanted and the crown you deserve." Sansa quietly questioned, "A crown? Stannis, I-I don't think you know what you are saying." He chuckled, "I am saying that one day you will wear a crown of gold." She smiled as he continued,

"I want you, Sansa, I want you so badly, but not under these circumstances."

Sansa questioned, "Then how will you have me?" Without thinking, Stannis stood and ran one of his hands through her red hair, "As my Queen." He walked away, letting her think of what he had just said, "Stannis, are you saying that-"

Stannis looked back at her, "I am asking if you will allow me to court you, Sansa." Sansa repeated, "Court me?" He turned around, "Yes, I would like to court you for a time, you will be mine and I will be yours. When the time comes, if you are content in your time here and with me, then-well- let us start small, hm?" Sansa still could not believe that Stannis Baratheon, the one true King, was requesting she be his, "Why me?" He smiled, a smile she rarely saw in her time there, "You have shown me such grace, loyalty, and strength Sansa."

"Is that all?"

He shook his head, "I very much care for you. Please, Lady Sansa, allow me to court you?"

Sansa agreed to his request and both Stannis and Sansa spent the rest of the night in her chambers, sitting side by side in her bed, his arm around her shoulders as she leaned against him and told him stories of her childhood in Winterfell. He listened to her cry, laugh, and tell stories that he related to his own time with his two brothers. Both fell asleep late into the night, neither giving a care for the fact that Davos walked in on them and smiled at their situation. He lit a lantern and placed it on the table before leaving the room and the future of Westeros to their rest.

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I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. I enjoyed writing it!