[A/N]: Thanks again to everyone who has taken the time to review, follow or favourite this story. Thanks to the numerous guests who have left feedback since I'm unable to reply to you directly, it really helps keep me going with this.
Gendry
They were approaching the gates of Winterfell. It was a huge estate, one of the only in all of Kings Landing to rival that of his father's. The Baratheons and Starks were both made from old money. Their great, great grandfather's were lucky enough to get involved in the oil business and it was his and Arya's father who started investing in renewable energy, turning Baratheon Industries and Stark Corporations into the powerhouse businesses they were today.
The security guard manning the gate instantly recognised Gendry's silver DB9 Aston Martin. Gendry once let the man take it for a drive at the end of his shift. He could still remember the look on the man's face when he made the offer to him. It was one of pure shock that was followed by a look of content as they arrived back at the estate. Gendry swore the man was on the verge of crying. It was those moments that made him really appreciate what he had.
"Good morning Mr Baratheon and Miss…Oh Miss Stark" he greeted.
"Morning Alfred, and how many times do I have to tell you to call me Gendry! Mr Baratheon is my dad and makes me feel like an old man" he laughed.
"Oh yes forgive me Mr…ahh…Gendry. Just something I do out of habit I'm afraid" he replied.
"Nothing to worry about. Do you think you could buzz us in?"
"Yes of course, I was wondering when you'd get in"
"What do you mean you were wondering when I'd get in?" He asked confused.
"Oh it's just that your whole family arrived earlier this morning Mr…Gendry so I thought there must have been some sort of Stark and Baratheon function going on"
Gendry looked at Arya who just shrugged in return. Was there some event on he forgot about? He heard the creaking of the steel gates as Alfred buzzed it open for them and gave the man a quick wave in thanks as he slowly drove up the long drive way into the estate.
"Do you have any idea why my family would be here today?" he asked Arya.
"I have no idea Gen, I've been racking my brain trying to think of all the things mum has told me to attend but I can't think of anything. She normally hounds me about not forgetting to look my best and buy a new dress if something's on and I don't have a missed call from her so it must be a last minute thing. Plus Jon would have said something to me yesterday about it – you know he hates these things as much as I do and wouldn't pass up an opportunity to bitch about it with me" she responded.
"Well I guess there is a positive to this" he stated.
"And what would that be" she said cocking her eyebrow.
"Well we can at least tell them all at once. You know that whole hit two birds with one stone thing" he joked as he squeezed her hand in his.
When they finally pulled up to the front of her house they both sat in silence taking a moment with each other before facing their families. Arya was the first to speak.
"Maybe we should wait…you know until I'm 18?" she voiced.
Gendry shook in head in response "no Arya, I don't want to sneak around".
"But sneaking around could be fun" she teased as she ran her fingers up and down his thigh. Gendry quickly grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips giving it a chaste kiss.
"Are you embarrassed by me Ar?" he asked looking at her with a worried expression.
"Of course not…I'm just worried that's all" her confident façade fading. "I don't want our families not to be happy for us, Jon's your best friend and even though I should love my brothers all the same I don't…Jon has always been my favourite. What if he hates us? What if he tries to kill you? What if you end up killing him when he tries to kill you?" she was panicking now.
"Arya look at me…just breathe ok….in and out…that's it…just relax babe" he said tenderly as he held her hands in his. He had never seen her like that before and it un-nerved him. Arya slowly slowed her breathing and snapped out of her panicked state.
"Sorry, I don't know what came over me" she mumbled.
"It's alright you just scared the shit out of me! I know it's going to be hard Ar but like I said I don't want to sneak around behind everyone's backs. I'm willing to fight for us if you are."
She lightly punched him the arm "Of course I am you stupid bull…it's not going to be easy that's all" she sighed.
"Since when did Arya Stark start taking the easy way out of things? Aren't you supposed to be some prodigy with all your House of Black and White training" he mused.
That earned him another punch, but one to the ribs this time. "Fine" she grumbled. "Let's go get this over with then."
They stood staring at the front door hand in hand before Arya finally worked up the courage to open it and let themselves in. They could hear the voices of their families and the clinking of glasses streaming through from the main living room.
"Are you ready?" he asked glancing over at his petite girlfriend.
"As ready as I can be" she smiled softly back at him.
They headed towards the room omitting the sound. Different scenarios of what would befall them played over and over in his mind. Scenario one, which was the best of all of them involved Ned and Jon patting him on the back and shaking his hand profusely welcoming him into the family.
"We'll finally be brothers for real" Jon would say. Everyone was happy, especially Arya who would be smiling that brilliant smile of hers that left him feeling breathless.
Scenario two had all the Stark brothers smashing whatever glass objects they had in hand and running at him in full force for so much as looking at Arya let alone dating her. There was a rage in their eyes that reminded him of the movie 28 Days Later. In his mind the Stark boys were the zombies and he was the piece of human flesh they were so hungry to rip apart.
Scenario three was the worst of them and involved Catelyn ordering a bunch of faceless men to place Arya in hand cuffs and cart her off to some nunnery to live out the rest of the days in the service of God. He too would be wheeled off somewhere and his manhood torn right off so he wouldn't succumb to the desires of men. The two would be separated forever and although it was a little over-dramatic he couldn't help but think these things could actually happen. The Starks were made of money and money could buy you anything these days.
He snapped out of his day dream as he felt Arya's grip on his hand tighten. They entered the room, their hands still tangled in one another to see Baratheons and Starks alike deep in conversation, no-one paying them any mind. In an attempt to make their presence known, Gendry began clearing his throat only to feel Arya's hand ripped out of his as her husky cross wolf, Nymeria, bounded into the room tackling her petite owner.
"I missed you too girl" Arya chuckled as she feebly tried to stop the animal from attacking her with it's licks.
"Here" he said offering Arya his hand and pulling her off the floor with ease. She had splotches of dog slobber on her face and her somewhat neat hair was slightly dishevelled.
"Thanks" she replied a small smile creeping on her face.
He lifted the hem of his t-shirt and used it to wipe off some of the saliva still stuck to her face, then proceeded to tuck a loose piece of her hair behind her ear. He let his hand rest on her cheek, his thumb drawing small circles on her cheekbone. Her eyes fluttered closed as she rested her hand where his was and slowly drew his hand down from her face to her lips giving it a quick kiss and smiling whole heartedly back at him. They were both so engrossed by the moment that they were completely oblivious to the audience staring blankly at them.
"Gendry? Arya?" Jon managed to croak out, breaking the uncomfortable silence that now seemed to fill the room. There was a confused look on his face as he began rubbing his forehead.
"Ah…hey mate…umm and everyone" Gendry stated meekly. All Arya could do was give a small wave hello her face flushed with embarrassment.
He could see Jon's jaw clench as if he was desperately trying to stop himself from saying something he might regret. Gendry quickly glanced over to Ned to gauge his reaction, but the man had his famous poker face on. Robb, the oldest of the Stark siblings also looked un-amused by what he just witnessed and both Sansa and Catelyn remained expressionless. They must have had a botox treatment this morning.
He had anticipated this but the expressions plastered on his step-mother Cersei's face and that of his father shocked him the most. They both looked as if they had seen a ghost and their eyes were glued on Arya.
"Lyanna?" his father called out as he pushed through his family towards Arya. She looked up at Gendry confused, then back to his father as he inched closer to her. He was standing right in front of her now, his eyes glistening as he fought back what looked like tears trying to free themselves. His lip quivered as he raised his trembling hand to touch her face. What the hell is he doing? Before he knew what he was doing Gendry jerked his father's hand away from Arya's face.
"Dad this is Arya not Lyanna" he voiced sternly. Blue eyes locked on blue, both Baratheon men sizing the other up as if preparing for a fight. If his father had been in better shape then he may have been concerned, but since marrying Cersei he lost all interest in keeping fit and instead opted to drink and get recklessly drunk every night. Gendry knew his dad was well into his cups because he could smell the alcohol oozing from his pours and breath.
Robert turned around as he felt Ned's stern hand rest on his shoulder. "Come Robert I think it's best you get some fresh air" he said as he ushered his old friend to the outdoor entertaining area. "I'll speak to you later Gendry…once your father has settled" Gendry simply nodded in reply.
"Arya can you please join me in the kitchen?" Catelyn announced in a voice that made it sound more like a statement as opposed to a question.
"Umm..but"
"No but's Arya in the kitchen now" Catelyn all but hissed.
"Sure" she sighed in response before she gave Gendry's hand a quick reassuring squeeze. He watched as she followed her mother and sister out of the room. The visions of Arya in cuffs and his manhood being ripped from his body flashed back into his mind as he was acutely aware of being left in a room filled mostly with Arya's brothers.
"Gen we need to talk" Jon all but huffed out. He could see the anger in his eyes. It may not have been as bad as he originally imagined but he knew he wouldn't be leaving that conversation without at least a split lip or black eye.
"I'm coming too" Robb piped up his sapphire eyes boring rays of hate in Gendry's direction.
"No, just me and Gendry" Jon said coldly. Understanding Jon's need to talk to Gendry alone, Robb stood down and let the pair walk out to the front garden.
"Are Gendry and Arya in trouble?" he heard Rickon ask Robb. Gendry couldn't help but smile at that. At least one of the Stark brother's didn't hate him so there were only two to win over now. Robb bent down and whispered something in the youngest Stark's ear and saw him burrow his eyebrows in confusion.
"That doesn't make sense" he all but shouted "If Sansa is going to get married to Joffrey why can't Arya go out with Gendry?"
What the fuck! Did he just say Sansa is marrying Joff?
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