I'm back from vacation, sorry for the delay. GRRM still owns everything, I'm just chasing a very persistent plot bunny that all stemmed from the comment that the Greatjon made at the end of the first book, "it was the dragons we married, and the dragons are all dead." This is my first fanfiction and so I don't know the proper etiquette for responding to reviews, but I just want to say a big thank you to everyone for reviewing/following/favoriting this story. And onwards! This chapter does contain dialogue directly from the book, but I love the relationship between Jon and Robb and I couldn't bear to leave it out.

Robb II

Winterfell's courtyard was a mass of confusion. There were wagons, horses, and a great many people all preparing for the departure to King's Landing. Robb stood at the center of it all, bellowing orders with the rest of the men. He was trying to be as useful as possible by taking on more responsibility since Bran had fallen as his mother had seemed to have given up. He knew Dany was also doing what she could to help as they would soon be the de facto lord and lady of Winterfell. He and Dany had both known the responsibility was coming since his father had told them he was going to King's Landing, but at first they had only been excited and treated it all as if it were a game. Then Bran had fallen and everything had changed. Now all the added responsibility was merely a heavy burden and they were making it though by relying on each other.

He remembered returning from the hunt the day that Bran had fallen and everything in his life had seemed to change. Robb had been eager to return to Winterfell and had received quite a bit of teasing from Theon about being chained to the bed since his wedding. He had laughed it off as Theon had been good natured about it, though Robb was a bit embarrassed as he knew there was a grain of truth to the jest. Robb had been pleasantly surprised to see Dany waiting for him in the courtyard with Grey Wind at her side when they returned. He had thought there had never been a more pleasant sight until he caught sight of the serious expression on her face, then he heard Bran's wolf howling in the distance and he hardly needed to hear her words of explanation to know that something was horribly wrong.

Presently, Robb saw his half brother Jon entering the courtyard, presumably from visiting Bran in the sickroom. Robb could not believe that Jon would soon be leaving Winterfell too. He did not remember a time in his life that did not include Jon and he could not imagine not seeing him everyday. He knew Dany felt the same way as all three of them were so close to the same age that they had grown up together. Now he and Dany were married and Jon was off to take the black and join Uncle Benjen at the Wall. Robb was frightened at how fast his life was changing.

"Uncle Benjen is looking for you," he said when Jon walked up, remembering that their uncle was currently seeking his brother. "He wanted to be gone an hour ago."

"I know," Jon said looking solemn. "Soon. Leaving is harder than I thought." Jon seemed to be trying to look at all of Winterfell as if for the last time.

Robb fought through the lump forming in his throat. "For me too," he said. He was losing one brother while the other fought for life in the castle. "Did you see him?" he asked, hoping that Jon had been permitted to at least say goodbye to Bran.

Jon merely nodded in response. Robb wondered if Bran was looking worse. "He's not going to die," Robb said trying to reassure Jon and himself. "I know it."

"You Starks are hard to kill," Jon agreed in response, but Robb could tell that there was something off to his voice. It was too flat and Robb had heard it like that countless times growing up.

"My mother..." he began trying to find the words to frame the question.

Jon shook his head and said, "She was very kind."

Robb was relieved. "Good," he said. He had always wanted his mother to be kinder to his brother. Maybe the fact that Jon was leaving her household had finally done it, or maybe it was Bran's fall that had warmed her to Jon. Either way, Robb was glad, Jon was part of his family for now and always, no matter where he went.

He smiled, "The next time I see you, you'll be all in black."

"It was always my color," Jon replied, finally smiling as well. "How long do you think it will be?"

That was a hard question to think about. "It had better be soon or Dany will have us marching to the Wall to see you," Robb answered truthfully. His wife had said as much to him last night. "You had best been sure to have said goodbye to her as well."

Jon nodded in response. Robb realized that this was goodbye for them. He pulled Jon into a hug. "Farewell, Snow."

He felt Jon hug him back just as fiercely. "And you, Stark. Take care of Dany and Bran."

"I will," Robb said as they broke apart. He felt slightly embarrassed as neither one of them showed much affection generally. To break the awkwardness he said, "Uncle Benjen said to send you to the stables if I saw you."

"I have one more farewell to make," Jon answered.

Robb imagined he was off to see Arya. The two of them had always been close. "Then I haven't seen you," he replied.

Robb turned back to the preparations as Jon walked off, unable to watch him go. He told himself that they would meet again soon. After all, they still saw Uncle Benjen and the Wall itself was not too far to visit. His father had often stressed about the importance of the Starks supporting the Night's Watch. Perhaps he and Dany could go visit the Wall once things returned to normal at Winterfell. He knew Dany would want to see her Uncle Aemon and they could visit Jon as well. Robb was just thinking how much Dany would like that idea when Grey Wind's ears perked up. He looked to his left and saw his wife descending into the courtyard.

Robb felt his face break into the goofy grin that he always seemed to form on his face at the sight Dany nowadays. He would have been embarrassed by it but she seemed to suffer from the same problem.

"How are the preparations for the departure going?" she asked when she reached his side.

Robb could not help pulling her close to him and wrapping an arm around her. "It's madness as you can see. It will be a miracle if everything is ready when they depart for King's Landing. Have you been in Bran's room?"

"Not just now," she said. "I've been helping Sansa finish her packing and keeping an eye on Rickon. Old Nan just took him for his nap. Did I see Jon leaving the courtyard?"

"Yes, he's saying his goodbyes, Uncle Benjen is ready to leave," Robb replied. "Did he say his farewells to you?"

"He did," she said smiling sadly. "He told me to keep you in line now that he won't be around to help. I can't believe he's leaving. I sent a letter for my Uncle with Benjen asking that he look out for Jon when he arrives at the Wall. I wish there was more I could do."

Robb understood what she meant completely. He knew there was honor in serving in the Night's Watch, after all Uncle Benjen was hardly the first Stark to take the black, but still, they were all so young and Jon would have to serve for life.

Still he knew that Dany would not want to hear that now, he wished to comfort her, not sadden her, so instead he said, "Aye, me too. But he's chosen his path and the most we can do for him now is to support him."

"When did you get to be so wise Robb?" Dany asked with a mischievous gleam in her eyes.

Robb tried to laugh but the weight everything they were facing suddenly felt so heavy. He looked down at Dany and tried desperately to think of something to say to keep the mood light. She had been so brave and helpful during all of this, the last thing she needed was his worries on top of her own.

Dany, however, seemed to read his thoughts when she looked up into his eyes. She leaned up on her toes and kissed his cheek and said, "You are doing well, my love. We will make it through this together. Trust me."

Robb took strength from her words. She was right, they would be fine and so would Jon. His path was hard but so was the path he and Dany had been walking since Bran's fall. But they had all been raised with the Stark words, Winter is Coming, so they were all ready. With that in mind, he took Dany by the hand and together they joined the frenzied packing in the courtyard.

Robb took charge once again, this time with more confidence. He drew his strength from Dany's words and he realized that things would be right again, they would handle this together.

All the same, he kept hold of her hand.

A/N: I should update again by Wednesday. Now that I'm home from vacation I'm going to try and set up a regular schedule for updates. I just haven't decided what it is yet. Anyway, please read and review and thank you for reading!