Fantasies (or Reality)

by Leopold846

Two vastly different people who are both dealing with what they want out of life and what they'll actually get, stumble into each others lives and find more than they excepted. Together they experience friendship, love, drug problems, and awkward moments - because love isn't a simple thing that comes easily to everyone. Modern AU.

4. Chapter 3

Chapter 3 (Or [Sound effect of a lion roaring])

November 3rd 1995

The Keymaster

Arya had no time to spare. Gendry had gotten the new Mortal Kombat game for the PlayStation and every moment she spent getting home was one less moment she had to burn his ass to the ground.

The fucking asshole thought he was so-o-o-o cool because he knew that stupid code and could unlock all the characters. Too bad I am about to have Sonya shove her boot up his ass.

It was Friday around three o'clock in the afternoon and the sun hung in the sky as Arya rushed home. There was a brisk wind that brushed against her face as she practically skipped along the sidewalk. It was thankfully a quick day of school and the promise of graphic violence on a big screen television sent a pulse through her blood.

He is so stupid. I am going to kick the shit out of him.

It was also a good day because she had avoided walking home with Sansa. Their mother always asked that they walk home together, but since her sister was heading over to Joffery's that afternoon, she had a gleeful walk home without endless blather. Looking forward to her afternoon with Joffery, Sansa had gone to school in the shortest skirt her mother would allow and the cutest/sluttiest top she could find. While walking to school she was constantly complaining about how cold her legs were.

No really? A miniskirt in Wisconsin...in November...and you're cold? I would have never imagined. I don't hope you get frost bite on your vag, but if you do I will laugh.

She neared her house and noticed a man she did not know in front of her door fiddling with the lock along with a van parked in the driveway that she did not recognize. Her mother stood to the right of him, peering over his shoulder as she watched him work. It was not until she reached the stoop that she remembered that Rob had lost his car keys the other day, so the front door had to have its locks changed. She remembered hearing her father disagree, saying that was an overreaction, but her mother would hear nothing of it. The house was not safe while some stranger had the keys to the house and she wouldn't have her children be at risk.

"There you go Mrs. Stark," the man said, standing up from the crouch he sat in. "The deadbolt has been changed."

"Thank you very much."

"Have a good day," he said, picked up his tool box and walked towards his truck. In his blue jumpsuit he passed Arya, giving her a courtesy nod and she gave him a quick polite wave and approached her mother, who was looking at something in her hand.

"Hi, Mom," Arya greeted as she walked towards her. She was in a rush but knew well enough to be polite to her mother to avoid a possible lecture on manners.

"Good afternoon," she said and closed her fist around what appeared to be the new house keys. A stiff breeze chilled her mother. "Let's go inside," she intrusted, and she moved for her daughter to get in from the cold.

You let Sansa go out to have her cooch frozen off and I have to go inside because of a gust of wind.

Arya entered the house, slipped off her shoes, and kicked them off to the side. "Put them in the right place," her mother said and walked to the kitchen. Arya rolled her eyes and placed her shoes properly next to the others on the floor mat labels SHOES

Did she stumble across that? Or have it ordered?

Arya vaulted upstairs and dropped her backpack off in her room. It was heavy with her both her math and history book. It contained more homework than she expected for the weekend. It would have to wait though, as she had some serious ass to kick...but first she had to pee.

After finishing her business in the bathroom she looked at herself in the mirror and fixed her hair a bit. Not able to fix it with her hands she quickly grabbed a comb and ran it through her bangs to put the tousled brown hair into place. She knew Gendry's mother liked it when Arya came over and looked nice. She walked back into the hall and thought for a moment.

Maybe Gendry's mom would like it if I had some lip balm. Gendry mentioned he liked grapes. Maybe...his mom would like grape lip balm.

She knew should find some in Sansa's room and luckily she was out with a blond puppy kicker. Her room was painted pink per her sister's begging last summer.

I think the shade was 'dark Pepto Bismol.'

On her sister's dresser was a box of various chap sticks. There was probably some logic to it but Arya did not see it. She rummaged through the box without finding grape.

Watermelon, bubble gum, cherry, root beer? Eww. Where's the grape? It is really important to Gendry...Gendry's mom.

She looked down and found a bizarre cinnamon flavor. She didn't trust it but thought it would do. She applied it to her lips and it felt odd. She had only done it a couple of times and tried to mimic what she saw her mother and Sansa do. The chapstick was waxy and alien against her lips. She pressed her tongue against her lips and it tasted like waxy cinnamon. At least when she looked in the mirror she noticed a distinct glisten on her lips

Close enough I guess.

She noticed next to the chapsticks was a box of necklaces. She ran her fingers through the box and the metal was cold against her fingertips. There was a gold chain connected to a ruby heart, a sterling silver chain with a sapphire heart, a white thread connected to a jade heart.

What is with her and hearts?

Then she noticed a black thread connected to a simple blue stone held in sterling silver. She picked it up and examined the necklace closely. The blue stone was connected to the black thread and it glistened in the afternoon sun that streamed in through the window.

The necklace was big enough to fit over her head so she slipped it on and she looked in the mirror and was happy with what she saw.

She'll like me. I look okay.

She wandered down the stairs and went to the kitchen to find her mother. She was at the kitchen counter and was placing something on the keys she had laid out in front of her. Arya approached her and noticed that she had rubber key caps of various colors. She had eight keys and numerous caps to go with the keys.

"Hey Mom, I am going to head over to Gendry's. I'll stay over there for dinner," she told her mother as she moved forward.

"Is Gendry's mother home?" she asked, not looking up from the keys in front of her. She reached down and placed a red cap on top of the key.

"Yes, she is home," she responded quickly.

Her mother reached down again to grab another key. "Will his father be there?" she asked. Arya didn't know what the truth was, but she knew the correct answer.

"No, Gendry said he would be staying late at work," she responded as time continued to slip away and every moment spent talking to her mother was one less moment ripping Sub-Zero's head off his shoulders.

"Okay, you can stay over for dinner," her mother said handing her a key with a gray cap on it. "You'll need this. The locks have been changed and your old key is useless now."

Arya reached into her pocket and took out her key ring. It only had her house key and a key chain with a plastic name tag labeled 'Arya.'

I was really surprised they had my name.

She took the key out of her mother's hand and gave her the old one. "This key means you can always come home," she said, gazing into her daughter's eyes. Arya felt a bit uncomfortable but looked back. Her mother's deep blue eyes had a seriousness to them that Arya didn't understand.

It also means I can sneak out easily and get back in.

Arya looked at the key for a moment and didn't under the importance her mother gave it. She shrugged, placed it on her key chain, and went off to kill Gendry.

August 1, 2003

Tyrion

Tyrion hated working under his father. It was abhorrent, bewildering, callous, dehumanizing, and execrable. But his condo was his reward for his servitude. It was his castle. It was his sublime sanctum away from the horrors of the outside world. It had three bedrooms, one of which was a library and the other was his TV room. The kitchen was spacious and completely equipped with top-of-the-line appliances, which was waste considering how little he used it. His oven was little more than a place to heat leftover pizza and his refrigerator just held white boxes containing General Tso's Chicken.

His eyes opened to find his bedroom a disaster. Tyrion had completely different plans for last night until he got a text from Shae reading 'your place – tonight'. Tyrion called his cleaning service and demanded they have his castle cleaned by four at the latest. When they balked at his request he said that he would pay double the rate, and after twenty minutes of conversation with two different managers and an associate director he secured the services he demanded. Of course, as Tyrion and Shae burst into his keep and made their way to his chambers, they paid little attention to the cleanliness and in fact caused quite a mess. They tore through his castle like a tornado ripping through a small town. Shae was a sultry storm that ravaged Tyrion's life and all he wanted was more. Never before had he meet a woman like her that affected him like this. His mind was paralyzed when she was around and his poorly disguised deviant innards were unleashed. Her touch was tender, her skin was silken, and her aroma was unstoppably alluring. He could not resist even if he wanted to.

Tyrion propped himself up in bed and looked around. Clothes were strewn around the floor atop wet foot prints on the carpet that marked their path back from the shower to the bed. The lamp on his bedside table was knocked to its side and a white pair of panties covered his clock radio. He lifted up the pair of panties and saw that it was almost nine o'clock. The bed shook as Shae stirred from sleep. "What time is it?" Shae asked and rolled towards Tyrion.

"Almost nine," he yawned and wiped the sleep out of his eyes. "I need to get going."

"Me too," Shae groaned, flipped the comforter off her, and exposed her glorious naked body. It didn't matter how many times he saw caught a glimpse of that perfect piece of art, his mind was just hijacked by other, less noble, parts of his body.

No...we have to go to work. Bad penis.

"You seem relaxed," Tyrion noted. "Don't you start at eight?"

"Nah, I have the morning off. Doctor's appointment," his bed-mate explained.

Shae staying the night was unexpected and Tyrion hoped it wouldn't become the norm. In fairness, she didn't so much stay the night as much as she passed out on her side from exhaustion. But still, the parameters of their relationship were strictly physical and Tyrion didn't want to wade into the dangerous waters of having a girlfriend. That's not what he wanted and according to her, that's not what she wanted. This was supposed to be a fun stress release for both and nothing more. And as intoxicated as he was by Shae, he knew it would never work out between them. The couple of times they had actual conversations in the car or when they got a bite to eat together, they were painfully dull and excruciatingly awkward.

So..umm...how was your day at work?

Oh? Are you talking to me?

Ummm...yeah.

It...was...you know, good.

...that's good.

There was nothing there to explore and Tyrion wasn't going to look under any rocks to find a spark between them. This is what he wanted. He had waited in line a long time to find a beautiful woman who just wanted a trite physical relationship and he wasn't going to get off the ride until the carney ripped him from the seat.

"I'm going to pop in the shower," Tyrion told her with a nod, trying to emphasize the subtext. 'You should probably be gone by the time I get back.'

"I'll grab a quick shower after you," she said and reached for the remote to his TV on her bedside table.

"Hey, Shae..." Tyrion started as he itched his stubbly chin out of nervous energy. "I wanted to talk to you about staying over last night."

"Don't worry about it," she hastily replied. "It won't become a regular thing. And I only want to take a shower here so I can go to my gyno and not smell like I was up all night fucking."

"Okay...good," Tyrion said after a deep exhale.

The TV flicked on and he heard Shae begin to laugh. "Your favorite commercial is on," his mistress taunted him.

That fucking commercial.

Last year Tywin wanted to increase the firm's advertising budget. He didn't believe in the normal lowbrow commercials most lawyers produced but couldn't argue with the results he heard from other attorneys at conferences. So he, along with Cersei, who weaseled her way in as a 'creative director,' made the worst thing Tyrion had ever seen.

A voice is heard over a dark screen.

"In jungle the lion is the most feared creature!"

[Sound effect of a lion roaring]

A man appears on the screen wearing a dark black suit and a brilliant crimson tie. His striking blond hair is perfectly slicked back with intimidating jade eyes. Below his face the name plate of "Tywin Lannister, Esq." appears in red letters with a gold outline.

"We at Lannister, Lannister, & Lannister have over forty years of experience servicing the Madison area in both personal injury and divorce. We are the pride of the state."

While Tywin speaks cut to quick shoots of employees working at a luxurious law firm. Included in this show two men, titled "Kevin Lannister, Esq." and "Jamie Lannister, Esq." speaking with a non-threatening ethnic secretary.

Cut back to Tywin with the Lannister, Lannister, & Lannister logo with the firm's contact information underneath.

"We will stop at nothing to serve your legals needs. Together, people will hear us roar!"

Tywin then opens his jaw and [sound effect of a lion roaring] is heard again as the screen fades to black.

The worst part was that Tyrion was told he could be a part, but his portion of the commercial was cut out. He didn't know why it surprised him. He'd been cut out of the family his entire life – why would it be any different now?

May 15h 2003

Sansa

Sansa missed her job back in Madison, which was odd because working at a Starbucks in Madison wasn't much different from working at a Starbucks in Grafton. She just missed the city. She missed her friends in Madison. She missed the freedom she had lost when she moved back home. She had graduated from college just a week ago, but moving back home was already began to suffocate her. Her mother was hounding her about when she'd be home for dinner, and what jobs she was looking for, and whether she was wearing clean underwear.

Maybe she didn't actually ask that last one, but it doesn't seem like much of a stretch of reality.

It was a cool spring night as Sansa approached the front door to her 'home.' It had been her home for the longest time but, she since she returned from her senior year it was just a house to her, a place to sleep and eat between shifts at Starbucks. Sansa took her keys out of her pocket and slowly slide the key in the door, attempting to make as little noise as possible. She wasn't trying avoid her mother...but it would be amazing if Sansa could make it up to her room without encountering either of her parents. She already knew the mood her parents were probably going to be in.

Sansa slowly pushed the door open and winced at the loud creak as it opened.

Geez Dad...would it kill you to WD-40 the hinges?

The hallway was dimly lit with the blue glow of a television emanating from the living room. With any luck her parents didn't hear the creak of the door and she could dash to the stairs before anyone noticed.

"Sansa?" her mother asked from the living room.

Fucking door.

"Yeah?" Sansa asked and considered running towards the stairs. If she made it to her room she'd be safe. There was a lock on the door her mother couldn't get through.

I mean...what would she do? Kick the door in?

"We need to talk," her mother said sternly as she came into view.

I wonder if she talked to Arya...

"I'm going to go change really quick..." Sansa began to mutter.

"No. We need to talk now," her mother told her with a deep and rigid scowl across her face.

Yep. She talked to Arya. Only Arya could give my mother that face.

"What's up?" Sansa asked rhetorically. It seemed better than asking 'so I guess Arya told you?'

"We talked to your sister earlier today...and she told us she plans on moving in with Gendry in Madison. Tomorrow."

Sansa considered lying, but it probably wouldn't do any good. Not to mention she had lied to her mother too much in her life. The truth felt amazing and liberating at this point. "I know."

"You know? Why didn't you tell us?!" Her mother shrieked and her eyes, normally light blue, glared at her with a darkness Sansa had never seen before.

"Because Arya asked me not to."

"So you let us get blind sided!" her mother yelled.

Her father now appeared from the living room and walked up behind his wife. "Cat, calm down. Yelling isn't going to help."

"Yeah. Arya and Bran will hear you."

"Bran is at a friend's house. And Arya left earlier today. She didn't say where she was going or when she'll be back," her mother growled, clearly upset that her daughter left and did not tell her where she was going.

"She's fine. She's probably at Gendry's house."

"And your sister told us that most of this last semester she was living basically already living with Gendry."

Again, lying came to mind...but she didn't want to. Her mother needed to hear the truth, although she would never admit it. All of her children had been lying to her on one level or another for the last couple of years. Bran claimed he was going to go to school in state, but Sansa knew he had already been accepted to Princeton. Rob was 'this close' to committing to a girl and starting a family, but in truth he was married to his job. Jon lived with a roommate in Canada, that roommate being a girl named Ygritte. And now Arya was going to live with Gendry, but she had the audacity to admit it to the world.

"It wasn't any of your business, Mom," Sansa curtly told her mother.

"None of my business!" her mother repeated, anger flowing off her.

"Yes!" Sansa yelled back. "Arya's grown up. She has every right to be happy!" Sansa yelled and felt her lip quiver as her mother glared at her with pure rage.

"Hey, hey," her father jumped in before her mother could scream back. "Sansa, why don't you go upstairs," her father asked her. Sansa thought of disobeying. She didn't want to be told to go to her room, but she'd rather be anywhere else than here.

Sansa stormed down the hallway, scurried up the stairs to her room, and slammed the door behind her.

I don't believe I just stood up to my mother...for Arya?!

According to her sister, Sansa had spent most of her life with her head up her ass. When she first heard this Sansa was deeply offended and thought it was just Arya teasing her like she always did. Over time though, and after the terror that was Joffery, her misadventure with Loras, and her attempts to change Sandor, she realized that Arya might have point. More and more Sansa found herself lying in bed, later and later at night, and felt the world spin around her, as she thought over every stupid decision she had ever made. There were more than Sansa wanted to talk about.

Arya was the smart sister and, it pained Sansa to say, the responsible sister. Sansa had just graduated from college with a GPA weighted down by a terrible freshman year, while Arya was going to graduate near the top of her class probably. She was a double major in both public policy and political science on her way to be lawyer. Arya had been working here and there since she was seventeen while Sansa continued to just mooch from her parents until very recently. And most importantly Arya had what Sansa craved – a man devoted to her. She had been with Gendry now basically since her freshmen year in high school. There was still debate between the two of them when they officially started dating. Arya claimed it was when they went to see a movie in 1998 and Gendry claimed it was the night after his dad left in 1997. In Sansa's opinion they had been together since Arya stumbled into his bedroom searching for a bathroom when they first meet. It didn't matter though when it started, because what they had now was unbreakable. Or at least Sansa hoped so because what they planed to do might end up spiting them in two. Never before had they faced something as challenging as moving in together.

The hard part wasn't them having to share a space. Since Arya joined Gendry and Sansa at the University of Madison her freshmen year, their sophomore year, she and Gendry had been basically living together. No one knew better than Arya's roommate – Sansa. It was their mother's suggestion to keep her 'girls together and safe.' After the suggestion didn't work, and since she couldn't order her now technically adult daughters to live together, it was their mother's bribe that netted Arya and Sansa over a thousand dollars a year. Gendry spent a majority of his nights in Arya's room until this last year, when Gendry had a single room and Arya essentially moved into his dorm room. Sansa thankfully took in most of Arya's bribe as payment for that arrangement.

The hard part wasn't money. Gendry had just graduated, and although he, like Sansa, had a boat load of student loan debt, he had already secured a job after graduation. Arya also found a new job for the summer, waiting tables somewhere, but Sansa forgot where her sister mentioned.

They had everything covered like they always seemed to. By themselves they paid the the security deposit, the first and last months rent, and bought a whole, albeit used, living room set. Gendry had taken care of renting a truck, and although he admitted a little anxiety over driving something that big, he was going to do it anyways. Nothing would stop them. Everything was in order.

The hard part was telling Arya and Sansa's parents. Arya and Gendry made the decision to move in together over the winter and started their plans in the spring without alerting anyone. Sansa only found out one day when Arya asked if she knew of any good apartments in the area. Gendry told his mom over the phone in a delightful conversation Sansa was told ended with her telling her son that he needed new sheets.

New sheets...new sheets that Arya and Gendry would sleep together on. Both figuratively and literally.

Sansa knew her parents must have known how serious Arya was with Gendry. She hoped they hadn't hopeless deluded themselves into thinking Arya was still a virgin. It was painfully obvious to everyone and Sansa just assumed they let it slide because they were powerless to stop it. They couldn't ground Arya forever and they couldn't forbid her from seeing Gendry. Hell, both her parents liked Gendry. He was the first non-Stark to ever be invited to Christmas dinner last year. But, moving in together was a bridge too far. While her parents would tolerate Arya and Gendry's relationship in 'secret', they would not hear of them moving in together. Not only was it against their beliefs as Catholics, it was against their beliefs as parents. She remembered being told countless times by her mother how inappropriate it was for men and women to move in together before marriage, that how men and women needed marriage to guide their love, and how wrong it was to be 'carnal' before they were married. The word 'carnal' coming out of her mother's mouth made her skin crawl to the point that Sansa considered never having sex.

But, she did have sex. She had sex with Joffery, in a hot tub, without a condom. It was like a game of Clue that tried to solve the worst decision of her life. After that, when Sansa was alone, and had no one else she thought she could talk to, her sister was there for her. Her sister, who wanted to strangle her for doing something so stupid, was the one who helped her. Her sister helped her get through college. Hell, Gendry did more than Arya to get Sansa though college. Without Gendry Sansa may have died out in the freezing Wisconsin winter...without any clothes on.

Mistake number 107 – what a life you've lived, Sansa.

Sansa owed a lot to Arya and Gendry, and she was going to make it up to them tomorrow. She was going to help them move out...and hopefully her mother's gaze wouldn't turn her into stone.

Later that night before Sansa went to bed she got a text from her sister.

Thanks for not telling mom about me and Gendry

Sansa smiled at her phone and turned off her light. A minute later her phone buzzed on her bedside table again.

And Gendry keeps on pestering me to say that I love you. Which I do and I guess I don't say enough.

It was probably the nicest thing Sansa had ever been told by her sister. And then she sent her sister a text of her own.

I guess I love you too ;)

August 1, 2003

Tyrion

Tyrion arrived at work at 10:00am, which meant he missed only one appointment, which for him was actually a good start to the morning. Thankfully for him the receptionist, this one was named Susan he thought, was away from the front desk and he was able to slither into his office without alerting his father. He would have gotten there earlier, but Shae took ten minutes in the shower and he didn't want to leave her alone in his castle.

Time wasn't an issue now though, since he got in before his important 10:30am meeting, and now he was staring at the clock wishing it would spin faster.

This man is never on time. Doesn't he know we have important business?

"Mr. Lannister," the receptionist-possibly-named-Susan said over the intercom. "A Mr. Bronn Black is here to see you."

"Send him right in," Tyrion ordered and nervously twiddled his fingers.

A minute later his 'friend' and favorite private investigator waltzed into his office at his own pace. He was wearing all black - pants, shirt, and tie, but no jacket considering the temperatures this time of year.

He really takes the whole 'Black Investigations' thing to a crazy level. His name isn't really black...it's Bobienski. But, I guess 'Bobienski Investigations' is just too 'unpronounceable Polish' for his tastes.

"You're late," Tyrion growled, upset his most important appointment of the day was delayed.

"No, I'm not."

"The meeting was scheduled for ten-thirty and it's almost eleven. In fact, I can't think of a time you arrived to a meeting on time."

"Well then, I would say I'm on time, you just set bad times for meetings."

"Whatever," Tyrion spat. "You have my stuff?"

"Hey, hey, hey, big guy! Let's handle our other business first," Bronn told him.

"Do you want to get paid?"

"Fine," Bronn groaned and lightly tossed a small plastic bag filled with various pills onto his desk.

"Good," Tyrion grunted and snatched the bag off the desk. A quick count showed forty small white pills and forty small gray pills. "How much?"

"Four hundred," Bronn answered with a smug smile.

"No way. Last time it was three hundred."

"Well, prices go up...inflation...you know..." Bronn explained and mumbled off. His explanation was pure bullshit and he wasn't even trying to hide it. Bronn knew Tyrion wasn't going to go anywhere else for his needs.

Fucking supply and demand. I demand that he supplies me with my pills and he knows I'm to paranoid to go else where with my demand.

"Asshole," Tyrion growled. He threw the bag of pills into one of his drawer and took out a wad of twenties, counted out twenty of them, and lazily threw the dirty money to his 'friend.'

"Thank you," Bronn greedily smiled as he picked up the pile of money and counted it for himself. "Do you have anything else?"

"Uhh?" Tyrion asked.

"You know...any business...for my actual business?"

"Uhh..."

"I told you I only wanted to come here on official business and bringing your 'treats' was only a perk of hiring me."

"Uhh..."

"So, you have no work for me?"

"Umm, no," Tyrion sighed.

"So, I came all this way just to deliver your damn pills?"

"Uhh...yeah."

"You know, I do have a reputable business that I run now. I only deal to you as a courtesy," Bronn told his 'friend.'

"A courtesy that you greatly overcharge," Tyrion corrected him.

"Oddly, I don't feel guilty about the four hundred dollar price tag."

"You're just lucky I like you so much."

"No, you're too fucking lazy to find a new dealer. Not mention you wouldn't find another one that would deliver."

"I probably could."

"No, you couldn't. No one else is stupid enough to bring a felony amount of pills into your crazy ass father's office."

"Stupid? Four hundred dollars for something worth two hundred at the most doesn't sound stupid," Tyrion said, realizing mid-way through he actually had no idea how much his pills were worth. He just knew what Bronn charged him.

"I said it's stupid for me to come here. I didn't say I was being cheap."

Tyrion snorted and shook his head. "My father. You're actually afraid of my father?"

"I'm not stupid. So, yeah...I am."

"And what is so scary about Tywin Lannister?" Tyrion asked and flailed his hands around his face in mock terror.

"You mean besides the fact that he bankrupted another law firm out of petty vengeance?"

"So?" Tyrion grunted and rolled his eyes. He hated the fear his father inspired in others. Tywin couldn't make anyone love him so he settled on fear, and it irritated Tyrion to no end that it seemed to work.

The intercom buzzed again and Tyrion growled in annoyance. He didn't have any other plans for the day and was excited to enjoy some quiet time at work with his latest purchase. He jammed his finger on the large red button and snarled, "what?"

"Your father would like to know if you're free for lunch."

"Ohh yeah," Bronn said and looked down to the watch on his wrist. "Time to get going," he said as he stood up and showed himself out of the room.

Some 'friend' you are.

Tyrion contemplated his options. He could say no and deal with his pissy father later in the day. Never in his entire life did he enjoy a meal with his father. At best it could be like a good trip to the dentist – it was done quickly with minimal gagging.

Best to get it over with. And I know just where to take the stuffy piece of shit. Hopefully she is working today too...

"Yes, I am. I planned on having an early lunch today. Around eleven o'clock"

"Where?" she asked.

"Harren's Hall," Tyrion answered.

May 16h 2003 (or the day Arya moved out)

Sansa

When morning came, Sansa didn't have the will to get out of bed. She had never been in a hurricane but assumed the feeling was similar. It was already too late to flee the storm that was brewing, and all she wanted to do was hunker down let it all blow over. Alas, she couldn't. She owed it to Arya, and herself, to help.

In her pajamas, a tank-top and a pair of shorts, Sansa trudged downstairs in search of coffee. It was only seven in the morning but Sansa knew she would find her mother already up in the kitchen. Her early rising was once based on getting her children off to school on time. Now, with only Bran in high school, and leaving well before seven to avoid his mother, she rose for only herself, and her love of routine.

Her mother sat alone at the kitchen table sipping on a cup of tea. When she was younger, Sansa did the same thing until one day she realized that coffee was in fact the nectar of the gods.

"Good morning," Sansa said to mother as merrily as she could. It was going to be a rough day but Sansa hoped they could at least be cordial.

"Good morning," her morning responded through a clenched jaw.

Sansa poured herself a steaming cup of coffee and sat down next to her mother. They didn't look at each other and sat in silent sipping their beverages, both brimming with nervous energy. Sansa felt her toe tap on the ground and her fingers began to drum on the table.

"Stop that," her mother sharply ordered. Sansa rolled her eyes, went to the fridge, and grabbed a yogurt. She actually wanted more but couldn't stand to be in the kitchen another second with her mother. She'd just grab a spoon and have a light breakfast in her bedroom. "You should have more for breakfast," her mother instructed her daughter.

"Ugh," Sansa couldn't help but grunt. Even if her mother was right, she didn't need to tell Sansa what to do. She graduated college and had a freaking Bachelor's degree. It was, of course, not the degree her mother wanted her to get. She was supposed to get degree in business, like Rob got, but she had the gall to get a degree in music education. The degree she wanted. The dream she wanted to follow. But that wasn't her mother's dream for her. And since Sansa declared to the world, and to the University of Madison, that she wanted to be a music teacher, everything with her mother was strained.

Sansa stood in the kitchen another moment, still angry at her mother's presumption at her breakfast choice. "I'm going to help her today," Sansa suddenly said to her mother.

"What?" her mother asked, confused or angry with the statement.

"Today. When Arya moves out. I'm going to help her."

"She doesn't need your help," her mother snarled.

"Yes, she does."

Her mother said nothing in return and continued to drink in silence. Sansa sighed and walked out of the room with her coffee and breakfast.

Tyrion

Harren's Hall was an ancient relic that had a storied history. The building that the restaurant was now in was rumored to have once been a brothel that burnt down in the twenties. Some said on quiet days you could still here the moans of the charred whores...or it could be the deep fryer. After that it was a speakeasy during Prohibition, a jazz club in the thirties, and at some point a failed chiropractor named Dr. Gene Levinstein had an office there. Currently, it was Harren's Hall, a small Greek/Mediterranean place that also served American food. It had history, it had style, and the owner always seemed to employ the hottest college girls. It was a wonderful place.

"This place doesn't have air conditioning? Tywin growled as they entered.

If only my company was better.

"No, I don't think it does. Maybe, if you took off your jacket, it'd be less warm," Tyrion suggested and received a cold stare from his father. The black suit jacket which framed his father's white shirt and red tie was exquisite, but the beads of sweat growing on his head showed the flaw in plan. Tyrion just groaned and made his way to a table and his father followed behind.

Together father and son sat at the table in silence as they looked at the menus when Tyrion saw a sight for sore eyes. His favorite waitress approached quickly with her short brown hair bouncing as she walked. She was a bit shorter than him, wearing a tight red shirt and tight black pants that framed her ass fantastically. Tyrion had been watching this girl all summer and decided that she had one of the greatest asses of all time. He couldn't remember her name...

Anna? Arlene? Ariel? Not Ariel...she isn't a Disney princess.

"What can I get you to drink?" she asked and pulled out her notepad.

"I'll take an iced tea, no sweetener," Tywin ordered without looking up from his menu.

"And for you?" she asked Tyrion, her gaze letting him know that she was well aware of his ogling.

"I'll have a bottle of Miller Lite," Tyrion ordered and his father scoffed, as he obviously did not approve.

"Okay, I'll go grab those for you," she said to them both and then the greatest moment of all happened. She spun around and walked towards the kitchen which gave Tyrion a glorious view and a moment of bliss.

"A beer?" Tywin asked.

"Is that a problem?"

"No. That isn't the problem."

"Then what is?" Tyrion asked, knowing there had to be a problem. Tywin didn't enjoy being here any more than Tyrion did.

"The problem is you dating a client."
"What are you talking about?" Tyrion gulped as he attempted to play dumb.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about. I've heard from several sources that you have been seen around town with a client."

Fuck. Shit. Ass-douche, cunt-waffle, cock sucking, motherfucking, shit-fucker! Okay...don't say of what you just thought...and just relax.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Tyrion said as he doubled down in his deception.

"Don't lie to me."

"I'm not," Tyrion growled to his father whose gaze would not move from the menu.

They sat in silence for another minute until Anna-Arlene-Ariel returned with their drink orders. "Your iced tea, and a Miller Lite," she purred with a smile to Tyrion.

His eyes sadly roamed up from her hips to her name tag which read a very different name then Tyrion remembered. "Thank you very much...Beth."

Did her ass blind me to her name?

The name tag itself did look different. Instead of a small piece of plastic, it was a gaudy lamented tag with the name 'Beth' written in pen.

"You are very welcome. Have you decided on what you wanted?" Beth asked them.

"Tyrion, what's good here? You're the one that dragged me here."

"Everything is good here," Tyrion answered his father.

"If you like gyros we have the best in town," Beth suggested.

"No, I don't care for lamb," Tywin answered without looking up from his menu.

"Well...we also have burgers, wraps..."

"I will have a chef salad," Twin answered as he closed the menu and handed it towards the serving girl without making eye contact.

Tyrion rolled his eyes at his father's behavior. "I'll have a small gyro and a side salad, with ranch dressing."

"I'll put those in for you," Beth answered. She was only flirting with him to get a tip, but he had turned 'tip-flirting' into drunken mistakes before.

As she walked away, Tywin's gaze returned to his son. "I hate it when you do that. It is embarrassing. And it isn't only yourself. It's embarrassing to the firm and the family."

"Do what? Chat with a young girl? I thought you wanted me to get married. I believe you said it would promote a 'good image' for the firm."

"You don't find a wife by lusting after waitresses half your age."

"She isn't half my age. She's at least twenty."

"She's fifteen at best," his father commented like he was an authority on the matter.

And if she has that ass at fifteen, I want to know her address and her birthday so I can find her when she turns eighteen.

"And besides, I thought you said I was fucking a client," Tyrion challenged his father, hoping that Beth would prove he wasn't with Shae.

"That's because you are. Even after I expressly told you not to. And it is going to stop. Now," Tywin ordered but then suddenly dropped the subject as Beth approached the table again.

"Here is your side salad. The rest of the food will be out shortly," she said with a fake smile before walking away. Tywin glared at the girl who took her time as she walked away.

"Your current case load is a joke. You are handling one divorce case that should have been settled weeks ago," Tywin growled.

Ohh, I get it. We're having this conversation here so no one at the office hears us. He doesn't even want the waitress to hear this. But, he's so pissed at me he wants to argue even when someone else can hear. Fine, I don't mind disagreeing with my father.

"The size of my load is no joke," he chuckled, knowing Beth could still hear. "And besides, I think I can take a small break if I want to. My name is on the door." Tyrion knew that would get a reaction out of his father.

"Your name is not on the door. My name is, your uncle's name is, and your brother's name is."

"Oh yes, and how Jamie deserved that."

"Your brother is twice the man you are."

Height wise maybe. Beyond that...

Beth finally disappeared into the kitchen and Tyrion began on his salad. He could argue and eat at the same time. "She's gone now. Would like to continue what we were taking about?" Tyrion asked as he popped some of his lettuce into his mouth.

"There is nothing to talk about. You will stop seeing that woman."

"Or what?"

"Or I will remove you from the firm."

"No you won't."

"Don't tempt me," Tywin growled as he took a sip of his iced tea and grimaced at the taste.

"You won't fire me because then you'd have to tell all your colleagues that your son is a ne'er-do-well."

"My colleagues already know my son is a ne'er-do-well. And another thing..." Tywin began but was interrupted by a sharp crashing noise. Both their heads spun to the side and saw Beth standing in front of a pile of broken dishes. She did not move, she did not breath, and it looked like her skin was burning.

The girl was clearly cursing at herself as she bent down and began to clean up her mess. "Poor girl," Tyrion commented.

"No she isn't. She got me an iced tea is sweetened," Tywin growled at his son.

"Ohh...no...your ice tea is sweetened...what a shame," Tyrion mocked.

"The iced tea doesn't matter. What matters is you stop seeing that woman."

"Is that why we are here? You came here just to tell me to stop seeing Shae and didn't want to do it at the office?"

"Heh, smarter than you look," his father taunted.

"Better than looking smarter than you are."

"Don't be sarcastic with me. You will stop seeing that woman." Tywin's gaze narrowed onto Tyrion and he fought the urge to nervously twitch. Even if he claimed he didn't fear the great and powerful Tywin Lannister, he had yet to outgrow the annoying habit of fearing his father.

"You are not the boss of me..." Tyrion started but realized that wasn't the case. "...well you are...but that's not the point. I'm not doing any harm seeing Shae," he admitted the truth as lying wasn't helping him at all anyways.

"Yes you are. You are playing with fire and will burn down the entire firm," Tywin hissed his annoyance. They were nearing the fight they both wanted to have. But, unfortunately Beth returned with their food.

With the girl there they couldn't continue. But there was no way to stop their argument at this point. So Tyrion just decided to change the subject. "You have nothing to stand on. The first amendment isn't a suggestion."

Yeah, that sounds good. I should be free to express myself...and fuck Shae.

"What?" Tywin said under his breath and then noticed Beth approaching with their food. Together they would be united in lie for the waitress so they could continue being angry at each other. "You can't yell fire in a theater and you can't have filth like that on TV," Tywin countered, poking his finger out at his son.

Beth approached with two plates in her hands. "Here you go. One chef salad and one small gyro," she announced, placing the dishes in front of them. "Is there anything else I can get you?"

"This iced tea is sweetened. I asked for unsweetened," Tywin said and raised his glass towards her without looking at her.

"I am sorry about that," Beth apologized, feigning sympathy and took the glass from the table. "I'll get you another one."

"Was that really necessary?" Tyrion loudly sighed after Beth was out of earshot.

"She got my order wrong. People who make mistakes should make it right."

"I assume again we are talking about me dating Shae and not the waitress...or first amendment law?"

"Yes, that is what we are talking about. And you will stop or you will no longer be employed at my law firm."

"Again, you threaten to fire me? If I had a nickel for every time you threatened to fire me I wouldn't have to work at your damn law firm anymore."

"I will fire you if you continue to see that woman."

Tyrion only had one defense against Tywin's pledge to fire him. Tywin didn't care for his son, but he did care for his name, and knew that's all Tyrion had at the moment. "If you fire me I'll be sure to know that I saw her. Everyone will know I saw her multiple times and multiple ways. Everyone will know how unethical your law firm is. And everyone, everywhere, will know have terrible your son is."

"You wouldn't do that," Tywin rolled his eyes at his son.

"You give a shit about the Lannister name. I don't," Tyrion growled as he threatened the only thing his father cared for.

Beth again came into view, Tywin fumed at his son, and their bullshit argument began again. "Just because you want something...to be on television doesn't mean it should be allowed on television."

Beth placed the new drink in front of Tywin. "Here you go. Anything else?"

"No, thank you," Tywin curtly replied and again did not look at the cute brunette. She looked to Tyrion who hastily shook his head in response.

"It doesn't matter what I want, or don't want, or what you think is right or wrong. People should be allowed to express themselves," Tyrion declared and drummed his fingers on the table. Beth continued to linger around the table. She wiped down a nearby table with a rag and then bused another nearby table. Tywin noticed as well, but wasn't nearly as amused.

"People can express themselves...they just need to express themselves in a manner that is in the public's best interest."

"And who decides what is the public's best interest?" Tyrion asked, unsure at this point what exactly they were arguing about. He just knew his father was wrong, he was right, and he would pay hundreds of dollars to see Beth in a thong.

"You know who does," Tywin said, grunting in anger.

"But most people do not! It isn't fair, it isn't free!" Tyrion bellowed at his father. Not only was he pissed about the Shae situation but he was pissed at his father's opinion on his the vague made-up censorship argument they made up.

"Girl," Tywin sharply hissed at Beth who continued to linger. His father apparently had enough of this interloping waitress.

She turned her head and walked a couple steps closer to him. "Can I get you anything?"

"You seem to have quite an interest in what we are talking about while you pretend to clean, so maybe you can better explain to me my son's position on the subject." Tywin locked eyes with Beth for the first time and unlike everyone on the planet Earth the young girl didn't cower before the might that was Tywin Lannister.

"Well, I am not sure exactly you are talking about, but it sounds like a debate on the first amendment and television regulations. You seem to believe that the government should be allowed to regulate anything that is aired on TV because it is in the public's trust while your son believes that the FCC is not democratic. And since no one votes for the the FCC and they have great power over what is aired on television, he's right...now, if you will excuse me," she said walking back towards the kitchen with a couple of dirty dishes.

They sat for a moment in stunned silence, both men surprised she was able to make out their half-assed angry legal gibberish.

"Heh, she made a better argument then you did," Tywin chuckled at the girl. "Maybe I'll hire her instead."

"You could never employ her. She wouldn't listen to your bullshit."

"People may tell me what they think if they actually have a thought to share."

"Well, here's a thought...I will continue to see Shae and there is nothing you can do to stop me."

"You will stop seeing that woman," Tywin said as he rose from the table, dropping a ten and a five on the table for the bill. Based on the price of the meal, he left no tip for Beth.

"Good tipper," Tyrion sighed.

"I'm going back to work," he said and briskly exited the restaurant, leaving most of his salad uneaten.

Tyrion sat in silence as he gnawed on his gyro. He thought on what his father said, on what Shae meant to him, and how Beth was not only an astounding ass but seemed to have a sharp mind. Still furious he reached into his pocket, pulled out his cell phone, flipped it open, and dialed a familiar number.

"Delta Dental, this is Shae. How can I help you?"

"Hi there. Are you free for lunch?"

This is a dental booty call I've made before.

"I just got back from the doctor...but yeah...I can make that work. Your place at noon?"

"Works for me," Tyrion answered with a grin.

"See you there," Shae purred and hung up the phone.

Tyrion took a final bite out of his G=gyro and decided to get going. He wanted to make sure his apartment was tidy enough before Shae got there. Tyrion shook his head at his father's behavior. Not only was Beth a cute girl, but she was actually a great waitress. He threw down two twenty-dollar bills and walked away from the table. Before he left he stopped at the door and had a thought.

What the fuck. What's the worst that can happen?

Tyrion walked back to the table and placed his business card on the table. He quickly wrote a note at the bottom of the card and waltzed out of Harren's Hall.

Lannister, Lannister, & Lannister

Tyrion Lannister, Esq.

Divorce Law Specialist

Office Phone Number: 526-647-8377

715-968-6821 - My loads are always the right size.

Hopefully I'll be seeing you again Beth.

May 16h 2003 (or the day Arya moved out)

Sansa

It was probably only about twenty or so minutes but it felt like a lifetime moving the boxes out of Arya's room. The easiest path to the U-Haul parked in the Stark driveway was walking through the kitchen and then to the front door. Normally this would be easy, but with her mother sitting at the kitchen table sipping her tea and her discontent simmering to the surface, the three seconds spent in the kitchen was an eternity. Arya volunteered to stay in her room to dissemble her desk and and book shelves. She claimed she could do it the fastest, but that wasn't the real reason. Gendry and Sansa both knew that Arya wouldn't be able to stand the walks in front of their mother. She wouldn't break under the pressure like Sansa would. No, she would erupt in an explosion of expletives and rage.

From quick conversations Sansa had with Gendry as they moved the boxes down the stairs, Sansa understood way Arya was so angry. When they told her mother and father there was a huge fight between her mother and Arya.

"But, dear, I don't want you making a mistake..."

"I am not making a mistake! We've been together since high school and we love each other. This isn't a mistake!"

Arya and Gendry made their case and went to pack. After that her father came upstairs to her room and told Arya they were not happy with her choice and they would be cutting her off. Sansa had no idea how Arya was going to afford her last year at school on her own, but knowing Arya, she had some kind of plan. Thankfully, Arya and Gendry knew this might happen and they expected it.

Gendry headed back to his house to finish up his packing and Arya stayed back to finish up hers. Around lunch time Arya reappeared at his house in tears, apparently just having run from her house to his after having another fight with their mother.

"I'm not a child any more. I can make my own decisions! You can't just ground me anymore!"

"I'm your mother and I am always going to try to protect you! Even if it is from yourself."

"Protect me from myself? What a load of shit! You barely know me! I am not even sure sometimes if you like me!

"I love you Arya! That's why I will always protect you."

"I know you love me...but can't you just trust me?!"

"I wish I could...but I can't. I love you...but I can't trust you."

Now here they were, having just brought down the last load of boxes and deconstructed furniture. The thing left was Arya's large oaken dresser. They decided to take it together with Arya and Sansa lifting on the same side. The entire trip the large dresser teetered as they rambled down the stairs. They were stopped in the kitchen by her father, who ordered them all to drop it and helped Gendry rest of the way.

At least Dad is still willing to help out.

When they got to the U-Haul her father looked impressed by their packing. "You did well. When I moved out, half the load flew to one side at the first turn. I think you two will be okay."

"Thanks," Gendry responded with a huge grin on his face.

The four of them stood around for a moment until, without warning, Arya rushed to her father and hugged him. After the surprise, he hugged back and tousled her hair. After the embraced Arya told everyone, "I think we are going to get going."

"Arya, you should at least say goodbye to her," her father instructed his daughter. Arya looked up to her sister and Gendry who both nodded slightly. She sighed her approval and together they went back into the house. She allowed her father and sister to move in front of her and waited for Gendry at the door. Sansa looked over her shoulder and noticed she motioned for his hand and he reached out for hers. They walked down the hall behind Sansa and their father. Their mother still sat alone at the table, brooding over the life her daughter had chosen without her permission.

Arya approached her mother who looked up to her. "We are gonna to get going," she said and her mother simply stared at her with vacant stare. Arya rolled her eyes in frustration and asked, "what, am I not your daughter anymore?" Again, the blank face did not respond. "I don't know the next I am going to come back," Arya said with growing desperation, trying to prompt any response out of her mother.

"Arya, don't do this. This is your home," her mom finally said as her voice broke. Arya knew her mother loved her and she was about to break her heart but picking Gendry over her.

The sad thing is only their mother demanded that she pick between Gendry and her.

Arya looked at her mother for a moment and then reached into her pocket. She took out her key chain and removed a key. It was Arya's house key, the one their mother gave her over ten years ago. She always told them they had those keys so they could always come home. Her mother stared at the at the key that was placed next to her. Arya looked away from her mother and coldly uttered something Sansa would never forget.

"Goodbye...Caitlin."

The world stopped for a moment. Everyone was in shock as Arya rushed to her father and gave him another hug. This one was quick as she pulled away after a moment and did the same with her sister who didn't even have the time or thought to respond. Arya motioned her hand down the hall and Gendry began to follow out of the house. He gave a quick wave to Sansa and Ned who both stared at him with astounded expressions. As he followed Arya down the hall, Sansa realized her mother had began to cry at the table. Her mother had never cried in front of Sansa or any of her children before. Sansa was torn on what to do. She had a mother and a sister in pain. But in the end she knew what she had to do.

Sansa sprinted down the hallway towards the front door. Arya and Gendry were already outside and Sansa could hear her sister holding back quiet sobs.

"Arya!" Sansa yelled off the porch and ran to her sister. Without a thought they hugged again.

"You going to be okay?" Sansa asked her sister and the only reply she got was a sob. Arya couldn't say anything and in that moment Sansa saw they Arya knew what this meant. Everything was going to be different now. As the embraced ended, Sansa looked at her sister and the man she loved.

"Take good care of her," Sansa told Gendry, unable to think of anything else. It was unnecessary advice because that was all Gendry ever did.

"I will," he said as he took Arya's hand and they made their way into the truck. Sansa stood alone and watched the truck pull way.

AN:

For the record, I recycled a scene from the other story. I couldn't think of any other way to tell the story of 'the key' and the scene I wrote with Sansa didn't work for me.

The number at Lannister, Lannister, & Lannister is actually the letters "Lannisters" if you use a keypad.

Next time – the first part of the story comes to a close as Sansa deals with the unintended consequences of her tryst with Joffery and Tyrion deals with an unexpected problem.