Ok, I'm sorry it's been long. This is a bit shorter than my previous chapters, so Im posting another one tomorrow. I'm just editing the next chapter out.

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I hope you like this one, though not a lot happens here. Sorry. :)

Ciao!

Robb

The next day's sun was no proof of the rain that poured hard last night when Robb stood up from the cushioned chair to stare out the window. While his night was particularly long, having to watch Koreen all night, Robb was not drowsy for lack of sleep.

Robb looked at the clock, telling that it was time for breaking fast. Koreen should be up in any minute, he assumed. She was always had the appetite.

Will she be glad that he had stayed the whole night in her chamber? He wondered.

"Am I your woman? Are you mine?" her voice echoed in his head.

But then he doubted it. Their last conversation was to seal that the bond between them would never to be more that platonic. It was the morning that he saw her in Jon's room, when he got furiously jealous of his brother, when he and Koreen made love.

Even then he was not too hopeful, especially the way she had avoided his presence since, unless it was time for the family meals.

He chuckled at the thought of how Koreen always got excited by the food laid on the table. But he also saw how she always looked at the empty seat Jon often occupied when his brother was allowed to sit and eat dinner with the family. Her expression searching for his half-brother.

Robb wondered where Jon had gone after his confession last night. He saw Jon stormed out of the castle and braved the darkness of the night and the approaching rain.

He wondered what Jon and his father talked about. Jon thought it was Theon who used his name and put him into trouble all along. A great pang of guilt struck his insides. He needed to tell the truth, especially to his father, even if it was against his mother's advice. Even if it would break his heart.

Robb turned to Koreen when he saw her moved. He swallowed and thought of leaving her room. He went to the side table to pick up his sword.

"R-robb?" Koreen was still lying down, when she called out for him.

Robb smiled and rushed to her side. He was glad that she called out his name. Koreen rubbed her eyes and smiled back to him. She tried to sit up but Robb stopped her.

"I don't think it's advisable that you move, Koreen." Robb sat beside her on the bed.

Koreen heaved a sigh. "It was not the prunes, was it?" she whispered.

Robb shook his head. "No, Koreen. I'm afraid not."

She closed her eyes, trying to suppress her tears.

Robb held her hand. "It's going to be alright." He consoled.

Koreen smiled sarcastically, she then looked up keenly at Robb. "No, it's not."

Robb touched her face, and tucked a stray of her hair behind her ear.

"I can't stay here any longer. I need to leave Winterfell, Robb. The sooner, the better." She sat up.

"Do you think I'd let you go away with my child in your belly?" Robb asked cautiously. Trying hard not to brew a fight with her.

"Do you think I'd let my child grow up here and be labeled as your bastard?" Koreen sounded sure at the same time disordered.

Robb was not surprised by the words from Koreen. These again were his entire fault, just like the trouble he had put his brother through was all because of his foolishness.

"Well then marry me. If bearing a bastard child is what will drive you away from me then be my wife. Have me as your husband, and our child will be a Stark."

Koreen let go of the tears she fought so hard to control.

"I cannot marry you, Robb." Koreen announced, against her tears, her voice breaking.

"...My blood is never meant to be woven with yours."

Robb expected that Koreen would reject him; he had assumed she would say no. But a part of him was so hopeful, for they were about to have their own child.

"Why?" he asked demandingly.

There was no other solution he could think of. He did not want to lose Koreen, especially in this situation. Nothing had driven him to be a man before more than now. Just imagining her out of Winterfell, pregnant and vulnerable almost drove him insane.

"Because… I do not want to. I do not wish to marry you, Robb." She simply answered.

Robb felt that there was more to her answer, but he chose to not argue any longer. She knew how stubborn Koreen can be, and he couldn't think of anything more to convince her.

"There is no you and I." The words resonated to his ears, etched in his broken heart.

He quietly stood up from the bed and headed out the door.

Robb herd the muffled cries from Koreen's room as he walked away from it and headed towards his own chamber.

He understood why she did not want to be with her, but a babe in her belly changes a lot in the circumstances. And still… she did not want to be with him.

It hurt him terribly how she rejected him so easily. He was not yet convinced that it was not because of Jon, for she had seen Jon as the bastard of Winterfell. She saw how prejudice and cruelty has treated his half-brother. She did not want that for her child, same with him not wanting it too.

"Robb!" the voice from the other side of the door was loud and strict. It was Lady Catelyn knocking on his door. "Open this door, at once!" she ordered.

Robb puffed before going to the door and opened it.

"I have been knocking for the past five minutes! Did you not hear me? Why weren't you at the table this morning?" Lady Stark asked, needing no permission to enter the boy's room.

"I have a headache, mother. It did not make me sleep all night." He lied, although the growing pain inside his skull was turning true. He closed the door.

His mother looked at him from head to foot.

"You are still in yesterday's clothing. Anything's the matter, my son?" Lady Catelyn questioned.

"You just worry too much…" he said, discounting her observation. Robb turned himself and looked out the open window.

Lady Stark came behind her son and held his shoulder. "The common thing with my children when they lie is that they don't look at my face when they do." She said endearingly. Catelyn was always kind to her true born, protective and caring.

She faced Robb towards her. "I know you are a man now, Robb. But you need to understand that I am forever your mother. Tell me what is wrong, my son."

"I broke your trust, mother. I confessed to Jon. He said he talked to father. I don't know what he had told him but he thought it was Theon, he walked out on me last night." Robb was obviously concerned of his betrayal. He has not seen him nor heard him cross the hallway to his chamber.

Lady Catelyn drew a breath, turned to his bed and arranged its fur covers. "Losing sleep over that is a waste; you shall not bother yourself with it." She advised nonchalantly.

"Jon is a good person, mother. He doesn't deserve to take the fall of my mistake. He had always wanted to please you." Robb appealed. His conscience had been gnawing his soul since he heard of the punishment bestowed upon his half -brother. He did not exactly understand the need for it, but he never dared question Lady Stark.

The lady continued on fixing his bed. "If he did not exist, I would be most pleased." She declared without batting an eyelash. "Your father left last night with no words of when he will return." She said, changing the topic. "Sleep and eat, my son. There will be no trouble waiting for you when you wake up. Trust me." He reassured Robb.

Robb looked on to the horizon. He looked at the vastness of their land. The promise of lordship repeatedly resonated to his ears.

He then saw a horse with a rider from afar, he thought it was Lord Stark. His heart skipped a beat; he swallowed nervously and looked at his mother who was sill busy with arranging his chamber for him.

"Mother, did you ever fall for another person before father?" he asked, he tried to sound more curious than anxious, sitting at the chair by the end of the bed.

"Yes." She said, her smile constrained.

"Was it Uncle Brandon?"

"No. I barely knew him." She finished folding up his covers and chose to sit at the end of the bed to face Robb. "There was this boy we grew up with in Riverrun. He always fancied me, I knew. Even when I was young, I understood how he looked at me differently than when he did look at the other ladies. He was a ward in the house of Tully's. But he always strived to be more than he was."

Robb never knew that about his mother. All he knew was Lady Catelyn was betrothed to marry Lord Stark's older brother but then he was killed during war.

"What happened?" he asked, growing more curious.

She never really thought her mother to be the person who opens up to anyone. Her eagerness to tell her love story was a surprise to him.

"Well, I saw how my sister looked at him. She was mad about him. I may have feelings for the boy, but I love Lysa more. Shortly, I was betrothed to marry Brandon. When he heard of my betrothal, he confessed his feelings to me in a letter, but it was too late for me to respond. Or I was too afraid to respond. Petyr fought for his love for me, Robb. But ultimately, he lost."

Robb looked at his mother. She had always been beautiful in his eyes. Although the years of running Winterfell and raising five children were now etched on her face, her smile and caring demeanor was always something he aimed to look for in a girl he meets.

Lady Catelyn scoffed when he saw how attentive Robb was with her history. "It's odd that you are asking me this, my son. I would expect it from Sansa…" she joked.

Robb was silenced for a moment. But he much rather not keep anymore secrets.

"I am in love with Koreen, mother." He meekly confessed.

Catelyn lowered her look, but her smile was still there although forced.

"You are of age, curious with emotions. But I'm afraid you have not met enough courtiers, Robb. You might change your mind when you come across women of different lineage." She advised.

"Koreen is pregnant." He announced. "She's carrying my babe, mother." Robb's breathing became heavier; he swallowed to clear his throat which suddenly felt dry. "I asked her to marry me."

Lady Stark weaved her hands, looked sternly to his son's troubled face then she closed her eyes. "You cannot marry her, Robb." She said when she opened them. She then stood up and walked about the room.

Robb was adamant. He was never a stubborn son, even as a boy. As a future lord he was always keen about considering the welfare of others before himself. But this he had to fight.

He knew his mother was disappointed; there was no surprise in that. And he also knew that asking for her blessing is a stone thrown away to the moon.

"This ward boy who was in love with you, he fought for your hand! Why can't I fight for my love?!" he argued.

He meant no disrespect, but he needed to fight for what he wanted, for what was right, for Koreen and their future child.

Catelyn turned to face him. "Because in the same case like mine, my stupid son… responsibility will win over love!"

"Mother…" Robb was not ready to surrender, but he was never used to contest his parents.

"I have loved you, Robb. I have always been proud of you, I expected great thing from you. But I have wiped your shit too many times. You remember this moment, for this will be the last time." She warned.

The castle bell rang, signaling Lord Stark's arrival. Catelyn sighed and looked sternly at her son.

"It's too late to catch sleep now, Robb. Eat breakfast with your father. It's about time you face what is ahead of you." She coldly said before turning to the door and exiting, leaving Robb alone and on the brink of breaking down.