"Dear Gods," Cassandra gasped out loud as she doubled over in pain.
Her mother was knelt by her side, her hand holding her daughter's hand tightly. Cassandra had begun to sweat on her brow, her entire forehead coated with dampness. Catelyn had ordered for a guard to keep watch, knowing full well that Cassandra's labour did not sound as if it would be an easy one. She was still on the floor, wriggling around as Catelyn did her best to soothe her.
"It will be fine," Catelyn promised. "Just keep taking deep breaths, love. Keep calm and try not to scream too loudly."
"I can't promise anything," Cassandra said as her mother hiked her skirts up to her knees. A blush instantly besieged her cheeks as she felt the cold breeze on her bare skin. She took a deep breath as Catelyn looked to her daughter, shaking her head with a small smile.
"I gave birth to you, Cassandra," she reminded her. "There is no need to turn so red."
Cassandra thought about saying something to her, but words failed her as she felt another throbbing pain run through her. She yelled out loud before Catelyn reached for her hand again, holding it tightly as Cassandra cursed.
"Damn Theon Greyjoy." She snapped out loud. "I'm going to kill him when he comes back!"
A small smile played on Catelyn's face as she knew the pain which her daughter was going through. She had gone through the same thing multiple times.
"Just keep pushing," Catelyn urged her, fully focused on waiting for the baby to come. She knelt by her daughter's legs, doing the job of a maester for her daughter. Catelyn took a moment to look around the forest which she was in, hoping that no one was near them.
"Oh Gods," Cassandra groaned. "Dear Gods...this is ridiculous...why is it not coming?"
"It is," Catelyn replied. "Cass, I can see the top of its head. You just need to keep pushing for me, sweetling."
"I can't."
"Yes, you can," Catelyn sternly said. "I know that it hurts, love. Just keep pushing. One more and it will be here."
Cassandra looked at her mother's gaze, nodding back to her once as she did as she had been told. With one final push, she managed to feel a moment of relief run through her. She gasped multiple breaths as her mother smiled and the squealing of a babe entered her ears.
"It's a girl," Catelyn spoke. "Cassandra, it's a girl."
Cass watched as her mother grabbed hold of her cloak and wrapped the baby inside of it. She felt sweat pour down her clammy skin as she slumped further back against the tree, a small croak escaping her mouth as Catelyn tried to quieten the wailing baby.
Cassandra remained in a daze as her mother made sure she was safe and well. It wasn't until she was handed her daughter when she tried to remember the moment before her.
...
"What is it?"
"It is a baby," Cassandra spoke to her little sister.
Catelyn and Cassandra had spent their days travelling to Winterell, receiving word of what had happened in King's Landing as they went. One large war had broken out over the city, claiming thousands of lives. Cassandra had heard nothing from Theon or Robb. There had been no word from Sansa either.
Bran and Rickon had been sent back to Winterfell, both of them being coddled by their mother after so long away. When Catelyn wasn't with her youngest sons she found herself looking after Cassandra and teaching her how to read what a baby wanted.
Arya had not been so keen on the babe. She had looked at it with a wrinkled nose, unable to stop herself from being so inquired on the matter of a child. Arya had been told to stay in Winterfell for the remainder of the war, kept in the safety of the walls of the castle which was being rebuilt around her.
"Why is she so wrinkly?" Arya wondered as she looked on.
Cassandra held her daughter in her arms, allowing her to sleep soundly as Arya asked her questions.
"She is a baby," Cassandra said. "Babies are wrinkly. You were terribly so. Mother worried that you would age with wrinkles all your for life."
"No she did not," Arya protested.
Cassandra laughed lightly as Arya sat down on the edge of her sister's bed.
"No, she didn't," Cassandra said. "You were wrinkly however."
"She looks like Theon," Arya observed. "She has his hair colour and his eyes."
"Aye, that she does," Cassandra agreed with her younger sibling. "I'd like to think that she has some parts of me inside of her, preferably my amicable nature."
"You've never been amicable," Arya snorted before they both heard the door burst open.
"They're home!" Rickon shouted out loud. "Robb's banners have been spotted in the distance! He's coming home!"
Cassandra looked to Arya before she ran from the room, close on Rickon's tail. Cassandra stood up and held her daughter to her before wandering back through the corridors and out to the courtyard. Her mother was already there with Bran and Rickon, holding the youngest boy's hand whilst Arya jumped onto a barrel to gain a better view.
The trotting of hooves was heard moving closer towards them. Cassandra said nothing for a few moments as she watched, waiting for someone to come into view. She saw her brother leading the men, a familiar red headed girl sitting behind him, her arms wrapped around his waist.
A beam escaped Catelyn as she saw the Tully looks of Sansa. Cassandra smiled back, and even Arya managed a smirk. Robb had his head held high as he slowed his horse down, climbing down from it to the floor. Sansa held her arms out for her brother to help her from the creature.
Catelyn rushed forwards to hold her daughter in her arms, wanting to do nothing more than keep her safe forever more. It was all she wanted for all of her children.
Two direwolves rushed forwards, Grey Wind leading Cassandra's wolf. Mericia had been wandering by herself whilst Cass went to Pyke. She had known that it would impractical to take her wolf with her, and so she head left her at home with Robb.
"Where is he?" Cassandra began to panic as the final horses moved into the courtyard. "Where is Theon?"
Robb looked to his sister for a moment, seeing the babe which sat in her arms before he looked behind him. Cassandra followed his gaze before setting her eyes on his figure. He removed his helmet from his head before he set his eyes on her.
A large bruise had formed on his eye and a cut had suffered his lip. She said nothing for a moment as relief washed through her.
Theon's eyes found hers and he moved off of his horse, stepping slowly towards Cassandra as she nervously held their daughter in her arms. She smiled softly as he stopped before her.
"I thought I told you to wait for me."
Cassandra smiled as Theon wrapped one arm around her waist, his gaze set on the girl she carried.
"It seems our daughter had a different idea," Cassandra commented. "She didn't want to wait for you."
"A daughter?" Theon checked.
"Yes," Cassandra nodded.
Theon reached out his free hand to run it down his daughter's face before they heard Robb begin to speak.
"Queen Daenerys sits on the Iron Throne now. She rules over Westeros."
Nodding, Cassandra looked to Theon, wondering if he knew anything about the arrangement which Cass had made with Daenerys.
"Your husband died in battle," Theon told her. "Along with my uncle. Yara has gone to claim the Iron Islands for her own."
"I see," Cassandra whispered, no feeling of sorrow coming over her.
"So now," Theon whispered into her ear whilst Robb stood behind her, watching the man he had known as his friend. "I intend to make you my bride."
"I don't think you have asked my permission first," Cassandra teased him.
He smirked at her as Robb shook his head, looking at both of them before his mind wandered back to Talisa. He walked off, finding himself in the Godswood.
"I don't think that you'll say no," Theon replied to her.
She watched him as he continued to stare down at his daughter, completely mesmerised by her. He never thought that he would see something so pure and innocent. He still couldn't quite believe that she was his. She even looked like him.
"No, I don't think I will," Cassandra replied, simply content to remain with Theon and their daughter for the rest of her days.
...
A/N: And that is the end! Thank you to everyone who has reviewed and followed this, and I hope the ending was happy enough after everything that they have been through. I'm not sure about a sequel in the future, or another Theon/OC story as I have other stories to finish first, but, never say never! I hope you'll leave me one final review and thanks for reading!