He lowered his raised hand and dropped the hammer to the floor. With three great strides he was in front of her. She stood there staring into his eyes before throwing her small arms around him in a tight embrace. She felt him stiffen at her touch before letting out a breath and enveloping her into his much larger arms. They could have stayed there forever, just the pair of them unaware of the world around them.

"I thought you were lost to me" he whispered in her hair. "I heard about the Red Wedding and your family.." his voiced carried off stighlty muffled by her embrace.

She forced herself out of his arms to look at his face.

"I stayed…I stayed with the brotherhood for you." Arya said as she reached up a hand lightly to his cheek. She traced the contours of his jaw. He had a few scars, but what troubled her was the look in his eyes. They had their lost life in them and the once bright blue seemed clouded. It was then she knew that something had happened something terrible.

"Gendry, what happened…"she began.

"The others are here too?" he asked cutting her off,his voice returning to normal. "We should find them." There was a strain to him as if he was forcing himself to act this way.

"Alright." Said Arya. Instinctively she reached down to grasp his hand in hers as if he would be taken from her at any moment. His hand trembled slightly in her hand before she pulled him forward to follow.

"Gendry!" boomed Tom as the pair came into view "I'm glad your back, with all your limbs aye? Knew you were a tough lad"

"Of course. " said Gendry as he was pulled into Tom's hug, relectunctly letting go of Arya's hand.

"Nothing I couldn't handle" he said a forced smile on his lips. Arya couldn't help but stare. Gendry never smiled if he didn't mean it. His face was one permanent scowl.

"You can tell us all about your heroics over a pint " shouted Tom "But first lets get to the rest of the brothers"

The walk back to camp was mostly silent, with the exception of Tom's incessant singing. Arya and Gendry walked in silence shoulders brushing with the ocassional glance in the direction of each other.

The camp rejoiced upon Gendry's arrival and the forced smile was once again plastered on his face. The men slapped in heartily on the back telling him of their adventures since his departure.

"We will rejoice tonight men" Tom said over the maddening crowd. " Our brother has returned to us and I see it fit to celebrate at the inn tonight!"

The men cheered and prepared themselves to leave. Arya watched a few steps back until she felt someone step to her side.

"Well the boys back with not a scratch on him" said Anguy " I should thank the Gods because if a hair had been out of place you would have launched a war."

"I still might" said Arya

The brotherhood had taken over the dining hall in their usual fashion. Ale was flowing freely and their songs surely reached the next town.

Arya sat next to Gendry who was engrossed in a story Anguy was telling about some women he had bedded a few times at this very inn.

"Biggest tits you ever seen" said Anguy raising his glass to Gendry's own knocking them together.

Their converstations continued on as Gendry's glass was topped off more than once by a serving girl who made it a point to brush his leg everytime she poured. Arya was never one to worry, that wasn't her but she knew something was off with Gendry. He wasn't teasing her as he normally would, he wasn't even trying to get her to have more ale as he always was. He just carried on with his conversation with the brothers sometimes resting his palm above her hand as if it was providing him comfort.

He's fine she thought. I'm just acting like a stupid girl, worrying for nothing.

The serving girl had returned once more to refill Gendry's glass when he reached out his arm and pulled her giggling into his lap. It was silent for a moment before rowdy cheers erupted from the men.

In a moment Gendry pulled down the woman's head to his own bringing her lips crashing into his own.

The cheers got even louder as Gendry and the girl became fully engrossed in the act.

"The boy's been lonely" shouted Tom laughing " He truly has returned a man!"

Gendry head shot up a grin wide on his face. He grabbed the girls wrist standing up abruptly and pulled her after him fighting the crowd to reach one of the vacant rooms.

Once again silence filled the room as the men sat in shock. They never thought the noble bull would actually do it.

"Well... now the boy is taken care of how about old Tom" Tom said eyeing one of the whores who had just entered.

Arya sat staring at the now vacant seat to her side. Was this Gendry, it couldn't be.

Anguy reached out a comforting hand on her shoulder, but she pulled away and mumbled something about going to bed.

Her breath was ragged when she closed the door behind her. She should be happy shouldn't she. Gendry had returned, and he was happy. Well happy enough to enjoy the pleasure of a woman. She thought back to their fight at the brothel a few years back. She wasn't angry as she had been then. If this is what he wanted, she would be happy for him, but was this couldn't be what he wanted. She crawled into bed. He had returned and yet there was still an absence in the space next to her. She hadn't known how long she had been asleep when the door opened. Insticively she drew needle pointing it at the intruder.

"Jus me " said Gendry a slight slur to his words. He stood awkwardly at the door as if waiting for something. "Sorry for waking you I know it's late"

"It's fine" she said " Just get into bed before you freeze your arse off"

"You mean its alright I sleep here." He said relaxing a bit "I mean I didn't know…"

"If I wanted you sleeping next to me after you just bedded a woman" said Arya cutting him off. Her tone wasn't harsh, but comforting as if just stating the fact. "You can do as you please Gendry, I...I just missed you. I'm glad your safe."

She held the blankets open for him as he crawled in next to her. His skin was still hot and his heart beating fast. Arya wasn't sure to say so she just turned over facing him and saw the clouded look in his eyes once again.

"Gendry…" Arya whispered.

"I can't, not tonight Arya." Gendry said sadly. " I promise I'll talk about it when I'm ready but tonight I just want everything to be like it was before."

Arya reached up to push a stray lock out of his face then placed her head against his bare chest as he wrapped his arms around her.

She was his home, she always would be.

"So… was she any good?" Arya said a smile forming on her lips knowing one was on his face as well.