Warning: This chapter is rated M for sexytimes. Sorry it's taken me so long, I suck! Enjoy :)

"Asha?" She looked up slowly. It was Davos. She hadn't interacted with him heavily, but he seemed kind. He didn't trust him as much as Daenerys did.

"Hello, Davos."

He smiled. "Our masters are at war. It doesn't mean we have to be."

"I'm not sure I agree." Asha said from her spot on a rock on the shore. She flicked pebbles onto the sand.

"Do you come down here often?"

"I try not. It hurts too much. The salty sea is a part of me."

"Ahh, yes. I have a boat - a small one. Would you want to go out with me for awhile?"

Asha laughed. "It's better than nothing." Asha waited for Davos to bring his small boat back. He wasn't lying. It was small, more like a row boat. God, she missed commanding ships. Soon. She climbed in as he rowed out, smiling the whole time. There's something wrong with someone who smiles that much. Davos continued asking her about the sea. "I feel so cooped up here, even if I wasn't a prisoner, the sea is freedom." Davos answered something sympathetic. Asha coughed. "Now tell me what this is really about, huh? What does he want from her?"

"It's about Daenerys."

"Mhmm, what about her?"

"She hasn't been coming to his dinners. In court, she overturns his decisions. It's not good for the realm."

"It's fine for the realm. She's made good rulings. She is more than a pretty face. It's not good for Stannis."

Davos sputtered something. "Listen, I didn't come here to fight."

"Why are you fighting his battles? If he has a problem with the Queen, he can go to her."

"He tries. She never answers."

"Try harder." Asha pulled the rows from Davos's hands and rowed quickly to the shore. "Good day, thanks for the ride." She winked and went back to tell Daenerys everything.

X

Daenerys laughed. "Poor Stannis." She took a sip of wine. "Anyway back to important matters, I've gotten a ship. We set sail tomorrow night."

"You're going?"

"Well, yes. I have to reset the terms of the treaty. Not on his terms but mine."

"Of course."

"I might sneak off with you like a bandit in the night, but this is a Queen's work."

x

"How could I try any harder? I send you to invite her to dinner."

"Maybe that's the point, my king. You have to try."

"What is she playing at? She should be over this by now."

"A woman's heart is a stubborn thing."

"Leave me, Davos."

Stannis could only pace back and forth. She was sure that Davos meeting with Asha would bring some change about. Ever since their wedding night, they had been doomed. Shireen barely came out of her room. He couldn't tell if she was still mad at him, Daenerys, or both. He didn't want to ask to fear he would have to discuss their wedding night and all that entailed. Daenerys came to court a few moments late and left right after, so she wouldn't have to talk to him. How could two women be mad about two different things? Daenerys. He smiled at the thought. He missed being with her, talking with her, and sharing meals. What he had said that night had not only scarred his queen, but he was upset as well. He thought he was doing the right thing, lying to her and himself. She had seen him so clearly. She knew it was a lie. She knew him better than he knew her. She, a mystery. Like a mystery, he thought of her often. He even thought of their night together. Her heaving bosom as she waited for him to lie with her. How beautiful she had looked. I can't love her. Surely, I am more stubborn than a woman's heart. I don't think a man, nor woman in these seven kingdoms would disagree with that. There was something, more than himself keeping him away from Daenerys. It was a secret he couldn't even admit to himself not yet. Davos was the only one speaking to him and that was rocky as well. Stannis knew he took his anger about everything out on him. He sat eating dinner alone tonight, watching as the candle in front of him dripped wax. It wasn't fair. He was driving himself mad thinking about her. It was this situation that brought him to Daenerys' door. "Daenerys." He called.

"Is that you, Stannis?" he heard her soft voice say.

"It is."

"Go away."

"Daenerys, please." He punched his fist hard against the door a few times. "I need to talk to you."

"Are you going to be nice?"

He smiled. "I promise."

Dany opened the door. Stannis couldn't help but smile. She looked beautiful in a lilac dress that hung loose on her body and went down to the floor. It matched her sparkling eyes. "Well, come in. What do you want?"

"I want to try."

"Try at what?" She put on a thick dark blue coat.

"Why are you putting that on?"

"It's cold in here."

Stannis looked around and noticed a bag. It looked like all of Asha's things. Daenerys made a move to cover it. "What's this? I knew it."

"Stannis. Why do you think I'm always against you?" She put her gentle hand on his face. He closed his eyes, enjoying her touch.

"Because you're up to something."

"I'm not." Daenerys looked straight into his eyes.

"Promise me."

Dany laughed. "I promise, okay? Now go. I swear to all the gods you wouldn't trust me if I was always attached to your hip. " Daenerys walked towards the door and held it open for him.

"I do trust you and I won't go." Stannis said with strength. He kissed her, pushing her against the door. He didn't know what it was about her. He knew he shouldn't, but something inside him yearned for her.

"Stannis, what are you – " Stannis kissed her again. "Stannis, is this another mistake? You'll ignore later?"

"No." There was a knock at the door. "Asha, is that you?" Dany called out to her.

"Yes, may I come in?"

Dany sighed and turned to Stannis. "I'll be right back."

Dany crossed the room and closed the door behind her. Stannis was left in the room. He wondered what was up, but didn't think to eavesdrop. He just wanted Daenerys to walk back through the door. A few moments later, she did. "What did she want?" He asked.

"Just to say goodnight." She smiled. He pushed her again the wall, now kissing her neck.

"Stannis, what is this? You ignore me for weeks. You say that it was all a mistake."

"I've never done this before. I don't know what I'm doing."

"Stannis Baratheon, are you falling in love?"

"Don't say that. I'm barely used to the idea myself."

"It's okay." She put a gentle hand and brushed it against his face. She took his strong hand in hers and slipped it into her dress. She led him to her bosom. He felt her breast, running it over with his hand roughly. She took her nipple in his two hands. He said slipping his hand into her dress. He felt her nipple and played with it in his hands. Dany moaned quietly. "Take the coat off," he whispered. She moved it off her arms and let it fall to the floor. Stannis kissed her neck again, playing to remove the straps from her dress.

"No." Daenerys grabbed his hand and led him to the bed. "Lay down." Stannis obeyed as she undid the string on his shirt and lifted it off him. She felt him quivering beneath her. "Never deny yourself again." She whispered in her ear, kissing on it gently. The more she did it, the more she could see him wanting her. He moved his hands to caress her breasts, but she batted him away.

"I thought I couldn't deny myself." Stannis said cheekily.

"I can though." She sat up and lifted the dress over her head. A dream. She undid his pants, pulling them down. She mounted on him, thrusting slowly at first, then letting her deeper inside her. He reached for hand and she let him hold it as they came together.

"My turn?" he asked.

"Yes, your turn." She smiled.

Stannis lay in his queen's bed, leaning against the headboard as she rested beside him.

"So what do we do now?" Daenerys said quietly.

"I don't know, surely we have to get Shireen around to coming out of her room."

"I would love that." Dany leaned up and kissed him on the cheek.

"She'll come around."

"Just as you did." She smiled.

"I'm made of strong stuff."

"Yes. Everyone told me you were made of steel and that you never smiled."

"Idle rumours. And I heard you were a monster, like those dragons of yours."

"You've seen me angry." Daenerys laughed.

"I have." Stannis paused. They spent the night talking, getting to know each other. Dany told him of her childhood of running, of being hunted, and being sold, of becoming Queen and fleeing, of finally coming to Westeros. He told her of Blackwater, of his time on Dragonstone, even of his wife. The sun was about to come out. Stannis was playing lazily with Dany's silver hair. "Daenerys..." He took her in his arms.

"Hmm?" She said sleepily.

He smiled. "Nevermind, sleep." Let her be happy tonight. For tomorrow when I tell her, she won't be so tame. I will surely melt before her. Stannis closed his eyes, dreading when he would wake, knowing what he would have to tell her.