Okay, so, I really wasn't going to post this chapter tonight, and stick to my chapter-a-day routine, but then I realized that I'm going to be super busy tomorrow, and Wednesday, and might not get another chance to post it. So there, it's early. You're welcome.

Summary: In which Gendry and Arya go on Gendry's surprise

Arya wasn't nervous. She wasn't. Really.

She wasn't even excited. She hated surprises. And Gendry's was probably something stupid, like going out to lunch or something. Or, knowing Gendry, he'd probably just take her back to the Forge.

So, if she wasn't excited, or nervous, why couldn't she just get dressed already? Throw on some jean shorts and a white t-shirt and be done with it? Why was she even thinking about this? ARGH! STUPID GENDRY AND HIS SURPRISES!

If she only knew what he had planned, then this wouldn't be so bloody difficult. Would they be going someplace formal?

"No," Gendry had said.

Would she have to look nice then?

"No."

Would it be hot, would it be cold? Would they be indoors? Outdoors?

"You ask too many questions. Just dress for summer," Gendry had said, and then, before she could ask any more questions, he got out of the car and poked his head in, "I'll be picking you up early, so be ready. It's a long drive."

It was absolutely infuriating. Was he trying to drive her insane? Yes.

It was no use. She just simply couldn't put on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. It seemed like a poor thing on her part to look dumpy while he had obviously planned something special. But what did she have? Absolutely nothing.

It seemed like a quick trip to Sansa's closet was in order, and since Sansa was over at Margaery's (probably soaking up sun by their pool and eyeing Margaery's very hot, but sadly very gay older brother), it was the perfect opportunity to browse her sisters clothes without the fear of being caught.

Why is everything so pink? Arya thought, scrunching up her nose as she took in Sansa's closet. Everything was a different shade of pink, or lavender or light blue. Why couldn't she have a sister that was just a little less girly? Still, it was worth a shot to at least take a look, as Sansa was bound to have something a little more appropriate for a surprise, one-month anniversary date.

It became abundantly clear that Sansa was a fan of the cardigan, and flowing knee-length skirts, and summer dresses. She had some nice belts though, and Arya chose one that would fit nicely around her waist, and then snagged a white, high-waisted, thin and light pleated skirt. She turned to leave, but then she passed by Sansa's dresser and stopped, considering.

Was it bad to borrow your sisters lingerie? She was already stealing her clothes, so... How bad could it be stealing something else?

Feeling like a true thief for the first time, she sighed and gritted her teeth, reaching out and pulling open Sansa's drawer. She really wouldn't have done it if Gendry hadn't been wrong when he accused her of having an army of lacy bras. The truth was she only had the two, and those were by pure happenstance (Margaery really did think she was funny when she gave those to Arya), and... Well... She couldn't help but suspect the reason that Gendry had stopped her a few days ago in the car was that he had planned something for today. Something other than the plan, that was.

It turned out that Sansa had a nice tan bra covered in white lace, and, well, like it or not, Arya decided on stealing it, slamming the drawer shut and then running like the wind back to her room to change, which she really had little time to do.

She grabbed a grey t-shirt from her closet, pulled up the skirt to her waist and looped the belt around it. As she grabbed a pair of earrings that looked like little swords that Jon had given her for her last birthday, Arya spotted something that she hadn't seen in a long time.

It was her old necklace that Gendry had made for her when he was still in high school, years ago in wood shop class. It was cut from metal, beautiful, with surprisingly delicate attention to detail, the head of the wolf pulled back and howling. There was a time where she wouldn't even take it off, but then the chain had broken, and after she got it fixed, she was too afraid to wear it again for fear that she might break it or lose it. Now, it seemed only fitting that she wear it.

Her phone buzzed on her dresser and she knew that Gendry was there, waiting for her. Cursing under her breath, she grabbed a pair of black converse (which really didn't go with the outfit, but she had no time to find something more appropriate) and ran out of her room, grabbing her phone on the way.

"Arya!" Her mother called, catching her on the stairs. "Where are you going in such a rush?"

"Oh, just off to hang out with Gendry," Arya said casually, and then... Well it was better safe than sorry. "But then, he's going to drop me off at Tiffany Trotton's, it's her birthday and I'm sleeping over."

"Tiffany Trortton?" Catelyn repeated, frowning. "I don't remember her."

"Yeah you wouldn't," Arya said. "She's not my favorite person, but she invited me so I thought..."

"No, of course," Catelyn cut in, smiling, "it sounds fun. While you're hanging out with Gendry, would you run and get her a present?"

"Oh yeah, sure," Arya said, feeling a pang of guilt at the lie. "See you tomorrow mum."

"What time should I come pick you up?" Catelyn asked, smiling.

"Oh! Umm, no need, she lives like, a neighborhood away from Gendry and he owes me a ride," Arya said, feeling more and more guilty.

"All right..." Catelyn said, giving Arya a searching look. "Call me."

"Of course, Mum," Arya said, and with that she closed the door behind her and raced down the drive to where Gendry was waiting, a picnic basket strapped to the back of his motorcycle.

"You're eager to see me," he said as she came to a running stop, her feet slapping loudly on the pavement as she tried to slow down very quickly in a short amount of time. "I thought you weren't excited for this surprise."

"I'm not," she snapped. "I just don't want to be late."

"So you are? Excited, I mean?" he said, grinning at her. She flipped him off.

"Just give me my helmet," she snapped.

"As milady- OWW!"

"Stop. Calling. Me. Milady," Arya hissed through gritted teeth as he half laughed, half winced in pain, handing her the helmet.

"Fine, fine," he said. "Now would you please stop hitting me?"

"Deal," Arya said, getting on the bike, helmet already secured on her head. "Now where are we going."

"Nope. Not telling. It's a surprise," Gendry said, taking off down the road when she wrapped her arms securely around him.

"You and you're damn surprises," Arya grumbled as they flew down the lane and away from Winterfell.

Gendry had been right, it was a long drive. One farther than King's Landing, or even Dorne. They passed by the green, rolling hills of the North and the palm-treed suburbanism of the South, and then they were zooming into a territory she had never been to, flying somewhere that she did not know.

And then, as they climbed up a high hill and then broke over it, whizzing down at top speed, she saw her surprise.

The sea, stretching out in front of them as far as the eye could see, it's great, blue mass glimmering in the warm sun of the day. The expanse of blue turned white as it clashed against the wall or the cliffs, their beige, cragged faces standing tall against the spray.

"Surprise!" Gendry shouted over his shoulder, laughing as she gripped him. "Welcome to Braavos!"

They pulled to a stop at one of the beaches that stretched on in a crescent shape for miles. It was hot, and the sun beat down on their backs, but there was a lovely breeze from the North and Arya could almost feel the spray from the water against her skin. Closing her eyes, she sighed, smelling the scent of salt and sea and sun in the air.

"Well?" Gendry said, appearing with the picnic basket. "Are you happy?"

"You should have told me we were going to the beach! I would have worn something more appropriate!" Arya snapped, but she was grinning.

"What? Isn't that fine?" Gendry asked, completely clueless as to those things, as they left the parking lot and trooped onto the beach, walking carefully over the round, white rocks.

"No," Arya said. "It's far too nice. And I would have brought my swim suit!"

"Who needs swim suits?" Gendry asked, grinning wickedly.

"Oh was this a nude beach? I hadn't realized," Arya said sarcastically.

"Surprise!" Gendry said again, laughing as they picked a spot just close enough to the water, but not too close so that they would be in danger of getting swept away.

"Now I know why you seemed so excited," Arya teased, sitting down on the blanket he had laid out.

"Ha ha," Gendry said, sitting down next to her, and then, kissing the side of her head.

"What was rule number one again?" Arya said, raising her eyebrows.

"Arya, we're in Braavos, no one is going to know who we are," Gendry said. "Lighten up and eat your chicken."

"Ooh chicken!"

After they had eaten lunch, they sat and watched the waves lap at the shore, listening as they rose and fell. It was beautifully peaceful, and Arya couldn't help but agree with Gendry, that this was fun and had been a good surprise.

"Shall we go put our feet in?" Gendry asked, rolling up his pants and kicking off his shoes.

"Sure," Arya agreed, kicking off her own and taking his hand. It felt weird, to act like... Well, the couple they were, when they had been so careful in the past. She almost felt like they were about to get caught at any second, that Jon and Sansa would leap up from the waves and shriek "I knew it!"

As it was, they did not.

The water was cold, but not so cold, not like the beaches in King's Landing. Warmer. And Braavos, in Arya's opinion, was much more beautiful.

"Well?" Gendry asked. "You're being awfully quiet."

"That's because I'm enjoying myself," Arya said. Gendry laughed.

"So that's why you don't like talking when we-"

"Make out? I'm pretty sure any normal person doesn't want to carry on an analysis of feelings when their trying to kiss someone," Arya cut across him.

"Don't be a jerk," Gendry said, kicking some water at her.

"GENDRY! DON'T!" Arya shrieked. "This is Sansa's!"

"What was that? Splash you?" Gendry said, pretending not to hear and then splashing at her again with more force as she tried to run away.

Just as she thought she could make her escape and yell at him from the safety of the shore, she felt Gendry grab hold of her wrist, yanking her back, but, it appeared that he had miscalculated the force at which he yanked her, and they went stumbling back, falling straight into the water with an all mighty crash.

"GENDRY!" She screamed, just as a wave hit them, crashing over her head and drowning out her shrieks of fury. When it rolled over them and towards the shore, she leapt to her feet, shrieking, while Gendry howled with laughter.

"YOU IDIOT!" She screeched. "THIS IS SANSA'S! SHE'S GOING TO KILL ME! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"

And with that she set herself upon him, splashing water into his face as he roared with laughter, not frightened in the least.

"Stop laughing! Sto-"

He effectively cut her off by splashing a wave water in her face.

"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"

He threw his head back and barked with laughter as the waves rolled past them and Arya spit water from her mouth, her glare murderous.

"STOP LAUGHING! THIS IS SERIOUS!"

"Arya," he said through spurts of laughter, "this is hardly serious."

"Stop," she glared, but he kept laughing. And before she could stop herself, she was laughing too. "You're so stupid!"

Gendry shrugged, and then pulled her towards him, kissing her. His mouth tasted salty, like the sea. And then Arya brought her arm around and splashed him in the face.

"You little shit!" He cried, spiting water from his mouth and grabbing her around the middle as she tried to run away, crashing back down into the water.

"You started it!"

After splashing around for a while, they were both exhausted, and Arya pointed out that Sansa's skirt could only take so much, and if she ripped it, her older sister might murder her.

"Besides," Arya said, "how could I explain it? Oh I just happened to wander off into the ocean in Braavos? Oops?"

"Don't worry," Gendry said casually, "we'll just stop by my place and you can wash it all off. She won't be able to know the difference."

"Okay," Arya said in a small voice, her stomach suddenly in butterflies. She had no idea why she was so nervous, maybe Gendry hadn't planned anything for this weekend. Maybe this was just his surprise. Maybe she was just being stupid.

Maybe.

Oooooooooooooooo

"I'm soaked, asshole," Arya said, shaking her skirt as Gendry stepped aside, letting her pass by him and into his apartment.

"Don't go shaking all your water all over my apartment! I just cleaned!" Gendry protested, shutting the door behind him.

"Cleaned? You don't even know the definition of the word," Arya scoffed, shaking the the slightly wet hair out of her eyes.

"Okay so I finally washed my dirty cloths..."

"Aha! Knew it," she said, turning around and throwing him a mocking look. He grinned. Or, at least he tried to grin. It was very hard to act normal when he realized that they were in his apartment, alone, and she was about to take most, if not all of, her clothes off. Be cool, Gendry, be cool.

"So..." she asked, suddenly awkward as well. "Should I go in the bathroom or...?"

Or? Or? She was asking him a question! Answer her question Gendry!

"Sure," he heard himself saying, kicking himself mentally when he did. "Umm, the washing machine's right next to it. I'll just... Err... Wait for you there."

I sound so stupid it almost hurts. What was wrong with him?

"Okay," she said, giving him a half smile and then going into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her.

Sighing, Gendry set down the picnic basket and blanket and then went to the washing machine, staring at it for several minutes before rolling his eyes at himself and kicking into action, peeling his sticky wet shirt from himself, and then unbuttoning his pants, pulling them down as well and then placing them on the washing machine.

The door clicked open and Arya came out, red in the face and looking awkward, her clothes balled up in her hand. Gendry gulped, and hoped to god she didn't notice the shift in his pants. She was dressed in nothing but a nude bra with lots of white lace and then a pair of very thin underwear, and it was very, very difficult not to let his eyes wonder.

"Here," she said meekly, handing him the ball of clothes. He couldn't speak in reply. His mouth was too dry.

"Umm... This is... Umm Sansa's too," she said, motioning towards the bra. Gendry gulped.

"We...Uhh, w-we should probably wash it too then," he stammered out, his face on fire.

"Yeah, probably," she said with a little nervous laugh. "Should I just go back-"

"No," he said. "Here, let me."

She blinked in surprise, but then a little smile flowered across her face and she nodded, turning around so that he could help her unclasp it.

Really, it was sort of a stupid idea, since he had never had the talent or flash for effortlessly unhooking a bra, but Arya didn't seem to mind. She shivered softly at his touch, and then sighed as his fingers collided gently with her skin, trailing at the place where her bra had been, sliding across the wide expanse of pale skin.

She took it off and handed it to him, and he set it on the washer, unable to breath as she looked at him, and then turned around.

He sucked in a sharp breath, and knew, whether she was looking or not, it was the reaction his body was having was pretty obvious. Never in a million years had he ever envisioned himself standing there, with a half naked Arya, staring up at him uncertainly. Well, he had envisioned it, but he had never thought it would actually happen.

She wouldn't be Arya if she didn't take his gob smocked expression the wrong way, and her arms flew around herself, covering up her breasts.

"Don't," Gendry said softly, gently reaching out and pulling her arms away.

"You're disappointed," she accused, but he chuckled.

"I thought I was supposed to be the stupid one," he said, letting go of her wrists, and then, tentatively, he reached out a hand and cupped her breast, gently circling his thumb. She shuttered, her eyes wide.

"So... Then you're not disappointed?" She asked disbelievingly.

"Arya, don't be stupid. Of course I'm not disappointed," he said, furrowing his brow. "You're beautiful."

"Oh please," she said, rolling her eyes.

"What? You are," Gendry protested and she sighed, smiling at him and then shaking her head. "Don't look at me like that."

"I knew there was a reason I kept you around," she said, grinning at him, a hint of mischievousness in her eyes.

Smiling, he took her hand and pulled her closer to him, so that her breasts almost touched his chest, and then dipped his head down, catching her lips with his in a gentle kiss. She returned it, but with a sense of increased urgency, wrapping her arms around his head and bringing their bodies together, causing her breasts to collide with his chest, a sensation that went straight to his groin.

"Arya-"

"If you try to stop it one more time, I am literally going to cut out-"

"Okay just checking," he said quickly, putting his lips back on hers and gently prodding his tongue in her mouth.

Her breasts moved against his chest again, causing him to groan, and he slid his hands from her waist and upwards to her breasts, his thumbs caressing them in small circles, his tongue molding hot against hers as she let out a little moan, running her hands through his hair and then bumping into his groin, causing him to gasp aloud, his face exploding with embarrassment.

If she cared, she didn't show it. In fact, he felt one of her hands sliding from his hair, down his chest and then trailing against the line of his underwear before she gently pulled it away from his skin and snaked her hand inside.

"Arya-" he gasped in shock, but she ignored him, trailing her fingers downwards and then taking him in her hand, running her fingers up and down his length experimentally, causing him to shutter and gasp against her mouth.

"Bed," he croaked, barely able to see straight and she nodded, wrapping her legs around him as he lifted her up and stumbled to the bed, her hand in his pants making it very difficult to walk.

"Stop," he said, trying to set her down gently and failing.

"You want me to stop?" she asked dubiously.

"No," he said at once, stopping her wrist as she began to pull back. "No, definitely not."

"I thought not," she said, grinning as she brought her head up to kiss him, her hand back in his pants again, stroking him as he shuttered for breath, one hand on her breast, the other propping him up.

He grazed his fingers down from her breast and then, gently, he slid her underwear down and snaked his had between her legs.

She gasped aloud, breaking their feverish kisses, and looked into his eyes, her own wide and surprised. And shy.

At first, she seemed uncomfortable, her kisses distracted, as he stroked her, gently, unsure as to whether he should stop. That maybe she was too shy or too afraid of looking stupid to tell him to stop when, suddenly, she gripped his shoulder, hard.

"There," she gasped. "Don't stop."

He did as she commanded, biting back a, "as milady commands," because he was sure it would make her want to stop, and he didn't think he could stop, not when she was stroking him like that.

She only stopped to fumble with his wet boxer shorts, pushing them down and off him, and then pulling back slightly, drinking in the sight of his naked body. Gendry tried very hard not to blush, but, well, it was inevitable. He was blushing.

Gently, he leaned down and, removing his hand from her, peeled back her underwear and tossed it on the ground behind them.

There was a moment's pause.

"I have to ask-"

"Yes," she interrupted, looking nervous for the first time.

"Are you sure?"

There was another pause.

"Yes," she whispered, looking straight into his eyes, and in that split second, Gendry realized that he loved her. It should have been obvious, really, but there it was.

"Okay," he said, leaning down and kissing her gently. "It's going to hurt."

"I know that," she said, sounding annoyed, and he chuckled. "But I... Err... Imagine it will hurt a lot more because you're not... You know..."

"Small-prick Joffrey?"

"Please do not bring him up right now."

"Sorry," he said, laughing at the disgusted look on her face and then kissing her again, tenderly.

They kissed again, and again, and again, and Gendry could feel her growing more and more nervous. It seemed like it was time to cut the build-up, because it was making it worse, and get down to business.

Gently, he rolled over her and positioned himself over her, taking a moment to look at her before she nodded, squeezing her eyes closed.

Gritting his teeth, he sighed, really wishing there was another way around this, but there wasn't. It would hurt no matter what he did. And so he just did it.

"FUCK!" She shouted, wrenching up and grabbing his shoulder in pain, and then looking embarrassed. "I mean... Oww, that really wasn't as bad as I expected."

"Do you want me to stop?" Gendry asked seriously. "If it hurts too much..."

"No," she said fiercely. "No just... Umm... Give me a minute."

"Okay," he said as she squeezed her eyes shut again, taking a few deep breaths, and then leaned down so that she was lying on her back, gazing up at him. She nodded.

He moved slowly, carefully, and she grimaced at first, but them she closed her eyes, and sighed softly, and he leaned down and kissed her, and she kissed him back, sighing into the liquid rhythm he was setting, arching her body to his.

He reached down and touched her again, and she moaned, lying back against the pillows, her eyes never leaving his as he began to rock back and forth faster, his breath coming out in urgent puffs, feeling his release building and building.

Her eyes began to widen as he stroked her faster and faster to match his own rhythm, and then, to both their surprises, she came, her eyes popping open and her breath gasping from her lungs as she arched up, clenching around him, and causing him to climax as well, his eyes never leaving hers.

He rolled off her quickly, so as not to crush her, and laid there for a few minutes, both of them catching their breath.

"Are you okay?" he asked at once, rolling over to face her as she stared up at the ceiling. She looked over at him, and then she started to laugh.

"More than okay, I think," she said, giggling. It was a very rare thing to hear Arya Stark giggle.

"Did it hurt too much?" He asked, concerned.

"It hurt like a bitch," she said, frowning at the thought of it. "But that doesn't mean that I did enjoy some of it."

"You did?" he asked.

"I came, didn't I?" She said, raising an eyebrow.

He nodded. She had a point.

"Still," she said after a long period of silence. "I don't think we'll be doing that again for a couple of days."

"Fine by me," Gendry said. He still couldn't believe they had done it. And it had been brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

They were silent for a little while longer.

"Do you want to go take a shower?" Gendry asked softly. "I can put your clothes in the wash and clean up here. You're parents will probably be wondering where you got to."

"No they won't be," Arya sighed, sitting up. "I told my mum I'd be at some girl's house for the night."

"You did?" Gendry asked, shocked. Arya shrugged.

"I figured it would be better to be safe than sorry," she said, getting up and wincing when she did.

"So you're spending the night then?" Gendry said, slightly awe-struck.

"Well... Yeah, I mean, if that's okay with you," she said sheepishly.

"Yeah. It's great with me," he said earnestly, and she smiled.

"I'll just go... Shower then," she said, padding off to the bathroom as he got up as well and set to work.

He stripped the bed of the sheets and put them in the washing machine, along with all their wet, sea-smelling cloths and then put the soap in, starting a load. Next, he went and got clean sheets, and had just finished putting them on the bed when Arya came out of the shower, her hair wet and a towel wrapped around her.

"Do you want to get dressed or...?" He asked, but she shook her head.

"Let's just get into bed," she said, already climbing in herself. He shrugged and complied, letting her snuggle into him as he did and thoughtlessly started stroking her hair, his fingers lightly ghosting over the skin of her bare shoulders.

They didn't talk, and soon her breathing became deeper and deeper, her eyes drifting closed as she sighed, exhausted, a smile still lingering at the corners of her mouth as she drifted off to sleep, looking perfectly content.

There. They did it. Come on, you have to admit, it was nice to have to work for it. As Captain Jack Sparrow says, and I quote, 'it's not the destination so much as the journey.