[A/N]: Thanks again to all the awesome reviews and new follows and favourites. Let the drama continue...

Gendry

It felt strange being the only person in the room who wasn't a Stark. He along with Arya's parents and her two brothers Robb and Jon all huddled around her to hear her side of the story. Sansa still hadn't returned and everyone focused on Arya. She looked even smaller than usual in the large arm-chair that seemed to engulf her. She looked so vulnerable and it made his heart ache. He didn't want her to feel like that ever again.

When she spoke the look of shock mixed in with anger and sympathy seemed to wash over all their faces. "He wouldn't let go of me and said he always gets what he wants." She stopped for a moment then quickly looked at him. "I tried to get away but he was stronger than I thought and I knew I had to distract him." She looked back at him. He knew what was coming next and as much as he was glad she had managed to think so quickly on her feet, he wished there had been another way to distract the prick. "So I kissed him and when he let his hold on me slip I pushed him away and kicked him in the ah…privates."

He couldn't help but let a small smile creep on his face at the thought. Wish I could have seen the look on his face when she did that. Both her brothers and her father looked slightly impressed with her quick thinking and a somewhat proud expression sat on their faces. Catelyn on the other hand looked anything but proud. Her lip was quivering and her eyes glassy, a small tear rolling down the side of her face. She quickly wiped it away and knotted her hands together to stop them from shaking.

"My poor brave girl," she cried. She moved from her seat and kneeled down in front of the youngest Stark girl. "I'm so sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry" she repeated as she took her daughter into her arms and stroked her hair tenderly. He felt like he should have left the room witnessing such a private moment between the two women, but then he caught Arya's tear filled eyes look over at him over her mother's shoulder and knew he had to stay. She needs me as much as I need her. "I'm sorry I've neglected you for so long," she continued. "It felt like you never needed me. You were always so headstrong and adamant on doing things your way. I didn't understand you and I'm sorry."

"Shhh, mum it's fine. I didn't exactly make things easy for you." Arya pulled herself out of Catelyn's embrace and gave her a reassuring smile, letting the woman know she was ok. Her eyes were puffy and cheeks wet from all her crying but seeing this sensitive side to her made her look even more beautiful.

He could feel something in the pit of his stomach stir as he continued to watch her.

"So what happens now?" Jon announced, diverting his gaze to his best friend.

"That's up to your sister," Ned replied, looking over at Arya.

"I…umm…I don't…what about Sansa?" she asked sounding unsure of herself.

"Your sister will be fine," her father said reassuringly. "She will come around, you'll see, she's just been under a lot of pressure lately and I think she is confused about how she feels about Joffrey."

"She called him her everything dad, and she wants to marry him I don't think she'll be ok with me pressing charges against him."

"No she won't, but this is just another sign that the two of them weren't meant to be together," his face now turning sour.

"What do you mean another sign Mr Stark?" he found himself asking. He shouldn't have interrupted but the look on Ned's face made him worry a little.

The man looked like he didn't want to reply but all eyes were honed in on him and he reluctantly began telling them all what he knew of Cersei's oldest son – his shit of a step-brother. "Sansa had only just moved in with Joffrey when she came home in tears." He paused and pinched the bridge of his nose as if trying to calm himself. "She was frantic, I had never seen her cry so much. She had a bruise on the side of her face and her clothes were torn." Everyone's eyes were wide in shock, even his own. "Thankfully it was only your mum and I here when this happened."

"What happened to her?" demanded Robb. He had always been closer to Sansa out of the two brothers.

"I don't really know…but we had our suspicions it was Joffrey. We tried to get her to talk but she was incoherent, she was in such a worked up state that we put her straight to bed." Ned had his forearm leaned up against the wall now so his back was facing them. "I called Jory and we both headed straight to Joffrey's apartment. I had to make sure I was right before I involved the police…but what we saw when we got there…was…not what we expected."

"What do you mean, not what you expected?" Gendry found himself asking again. He was becoming impatient and wanted Ned to spit out whatever he was trying to tell them.

"The door was partly open and their photo frames were smashed on the ground with furniture toppled over. It was a mess and it was clear there had been a struggle. We heard a bang from one of the other rooms and found Joffrey hovering above his bodyguard Sandor Clegane with a gun in his hand."

"WHAT!" everyone screamed simultaneously.

"They told me he got fired," Gendry spoke shaking his head in disgust. "Does my dad know?" his blue eyes looking from Ned to Catelyn.

"No, Robert doesn't know," Ned sighed. "Your father is already troubled enough with business and Cersei, I didn't want to add another worry to his list."

"So you let him get away with murder?"

"I didn't know what was going on Gendry, I thought it was self-defence. He told us Sandor was the one who attacked them and we believed him. I've never liked that boy but I didn't think for a second that he'd be capable of hurting Sansa."

"So what happened next?"

"Jory took Joffrey to the hospital and I took Sandor to see a friend."

"A friend?"

"Yes a friend. The kind of friend who takes care of problems when you can't let the proper authorities get involved. Do you understand?"

"So he's dead then?"

"No not exactly"

"What do you mean not exactly? If someone's dead they're dead."

"My friend has him in their custody. He's alive but…he's in a coma. I've never been fond of the man but he was still a war veteran and I thought I at least owed it to him to give him a chance."

"Does Joff know?"

"No, I told him I took care of it. As far as he and Sansa are concerned he is dead."

"So Sansa has never told you what happened exactly?"

"No she said she can't remember anything. But when I told her of his death there was a look on her face I couldn't quiet place. I expected her to be happy but she looked like she was actually…disappointed."

"Disappointed? That doesn't make sense. Why would she be disappointed?" Robb questioned.

"I don't know, Sansa has been distant since. If she's not by Joffrey's side she's with Cersei. I'm surprised she hasn't gone home with them," he sighed. "It's as if she has chosen to block everything out and forget it ever happened."

"Did she go see someone about it?" Arya croaked. Gendry could see she looked worried about her sister. Even though they had just gotten into a big fight and Sansa had said some cruel things to her, Arya always seemed to put the feelings of others before her own. It was another thing that amazed him about her.

"She did for a couple of weeks and the doctor said she seemed fine. It was as if the whole thing never happened and she went back to Joffrey willingly."

"Do you think he did it? Sandor I mean?" Gendry asked. He knew everyone was thinking the same thing but it seemed like he was the only one game enough to ask.

"At first yes. Men of war are never the same when they try to fit back into society. I've seen it before but the more we thought about it the less sense it made. We'll never really know unless Sansa remembers or Sandor wakes up."

"What didn't make sense?" Jon's voice was a nice contrast to his own. He felt like it had only been him and Ned talking with the other's only chiming in occasionally.

"A lot of things but most importantly what his motive was. The war could make even the most honourable man loose sense but Sandor seemed fairly level headed. We never spoke much but when we did he seemed a decent enough fellow. He never struck me as the type to hit a woman, especially Sansa. He had grown quiet fond of her, it was easy to see."

"So you think Joffrey did it then?" Jon continued, his voice growing in confidence.

"It makes sense. He's always been very possessive of your sister but not in a way that indicates he loves her. It's as if he thinks he has the right to be. I don't know what Cersei has filled his head with but it seems the more time he spends with her the worse he becomes. His actions today only prove what he is capable of."

There was so much tension in the room that everyone was lulled into silence. He so desperately wanted to sit next to Arya and cradle her into his arms. He wanted to be there for her but he still hadn't gotten approval from the rest of her family. If they let Sansa go out with Joffrey, they shouldn't have a problem with me. He looked over to her and gave her a small smile that she returned whole heartedly.

"If Joffrey hurt Sansa, what is she still doing with him?" Arya asked somewhat confused by it all.

"The only person who can answer that is Sansa. She feels very…strongly for him. The reason why…I will never understand."

"It just seems so stupid. Why would anyone choose to stay with someone who hurt them? Why haven't you tried harder to keep him away from her!" she was raising her voice now.

"We've tried Arya, believe me we've tried but she won't listen. She is as stubborn as you are when she wants to be," Ned argued. "Look I know you all still have plenty of unanswered questions but I think it's time we all go get some rest. It's been a long day and I think we all need to take some time to calm ourselves."

"But dad!"

"No buts Arya. You've been through a lot and I think it's best you go to your room and get some rest." She crossed her arms across her chest and pouted her lips at her father like a child. "Plus I need to speak to Gendry alone. If the two of you are going to start dating, which it looks like you already have, I need to make sure I don't make the same mistake I made with Sansa and Joffrey."

Arya shifted her gaze towards Gendry with a somewhat worried look on her face. "It's fine Ar, your dad's right you should get some rest. I'll come up and see you later before I go." She nodded and headed towards the spiralling staircase to her room. As she walked passed Gendry she leaned down and gave him a quick kiss on the lips, ignoring the disapproving looks her mum was giving her.

"Make sure you do come see me before you leave. Even if I'm sleeping, wake me up ok?"

"Ok"

"Promise?"

"Yes I promise Ar, I'll say good-bye even if you're sleeping."

"Good."

He watched her petite form leave the room and cringed at the sight of the red staining her back. Even though he knew it was only sap from the Weirwood tree, it brought him back to the moment where he thought it was her blood.

He looked up and became very aware of the fact that it was only him and Ned in the room. He admired Ned but that was before he had any intentions of going out with one of his daughters, especially Arya. Just keep cool, don't say anything stupid.

"So you and Arya, is it serious?" he asked breaking the silence.

"Yes Sir. I care about her a lot."

"No need to be so formal Gendry call me Ned, I've known you your whole life. To be honest I thought that one day I might be having this conversation with you but I thought it would be about Sansa not Arya."

He didn't know why hearing Ned say that bothered him, but it felt like Ned was insulting Arya in some way and he couldn't help but feel offended for her. "Just because Sansa has always been your favourite doesn't mean everyone else sees her that way," he shot back.

Ned just looked at him, his cool grey eyes slightly taken aback by the harshness of his tone. "I love all my children equally Gendry, so you'd be wise to mind your tongue. You may be Robert's son but you're still under my roof remember?"

Great work you idiot now you've gone and gotten Ned offside. "Sorry si…I mean Ned. Arya is already insecure when it comes to Sansa and I guess I just thought it sounded like you were saying she wasn't good enough or something."

Ned nodded in understanding. "You care for her." It was more of a statement than a question. "You two remind me so much of your father and my sweet sister. Arya has her look and you are the spitting image of Robert when he was younger. Lyanna knew she was beautiful though but Arya…is a little more humble," he finished.

"She's nothing like Lyanna though is she? And I'm not ever going to end up like my father," he said bitterly.

"No I suppose she isn't and I hope for your sake that you don't end up like your father. Robert has always been like a brother to me but when I see him now, it's harder and harder to find the man he used to be."

"Do you think he'll ever change back?"

"No, sadly I don't. He is still a good man though Gendry and he loves you even though he doesn't show it. He is very proud of you and I have to admit you have turned out to be a fine young man."

It shouldn't have mattered but Gendry found himself smiling at Ned's praise for him. "Thanks Ned, that means a lot."

"You will be good for her and I can tell she cares about you. She has a strength that Lyanna never possessed and I can see in the way that you look at her that the two of you will have a better ending than they did."

Is he saying he approves? "So…does that mean we can date properly?" Please say yes.

"Yes it does. I'll talk to my wife, you'll have no problems with Catelyn but if I see that you have wronged her in any way I won't hesitate to come after you is that understood?"

All he could do was nod. "I wouldn't expect anything less. If I'm stupid enough to screw things up with your daughter I don't deserve her. I promise I won't let anyone hurt her again Ned, you have my word."

Even though the events that had led him hear in front of Ned had been ones he wished hadn't happened he was glad he was able to win the man over and for the first time it seemed like the prospect of him and Arya being together was finally something attainable not just a dream.

"You can stay the night if you want."

Gendry had to stop himself from coughing in shock. "Umm…are you sure?"

"I don't like the idea of my baby girl growing up Gendry but I know she has. If she trusts you than I trust you and unlike Joffrey, I actually like you. Just make sure you use protection."

Gendry felt his face burn with embarrassment. Did Ned just give me permission to have sex with his daughter under his own roof? "I…ahh…umm…thanks."

"You better get going, Arya may be many things but patient isn't one of them," he laughed.

Gendry couldn't help but give an awkward chuckle in response. Maybe this is a test and if I do what he is suggesting I fail. "It's ok Ned I don't need to spend the night, I'll just say good-bye and come around tomorrow."

Ned shrugged his shoulders. "That's up to you but the offer still stands in case you just change your mind," and with that he left the room, leaving a gaping and confused Gendry.

As usual all reviews are appreciated and help keep me motivated.