Introducing a few new people here – "Babby" is inspiration from The Wicked Earl book – she's needed for the story and I love her.

Also mentions of Sandor's sister in later chapters [I'll just mention it here because I will most likely forget] I have given her a name of my own since her name isn't mentioned in the books or TV series as far as I know.

Also, Clegane House had a few adjustments to fit the story.

Vee

V

Clegane House was nothing like Sansa had expected. It was large and simple, but beautiful. The house was three floors, its windows glinted with the setting sun's rays. The gardens were simple and stretched out to meet fields all round. The house was on a cliff, gardens stretching out until meeting the top of sand dunes that dropped down to what must be a beach; she could hear the sea somewhere close and the smell of salt was in the air. The wind lifted her hair that she had left undone and she smiled, brushing her auburn locks away from her face.

Sandor was beside her and he gently took her elbow, leading her towards the house. A few maids and servants stood to greet them and beside them an elderly woman with a friendly face and a wide smile. She came forwards and kissed her cheek, "welcome to Clegane Manner, my dear. I am Mrs. Clegane, Sandor's grandmother and keeper of the house, but please, call me Babs – none of this 'Mrs Clegane' nonsense – that is your name now, after all" she beamed at Sansa who was shocked – grandmother? "My you're a pretty one!" she praised her, hugging her close, "this place is your home now, my dear and we are all your family."

Sansa smiled gratefully at her and she embraced Sandor warmly, throwing her arms around his broad shoulders. He had to lean down for her to reach him but his hands held her gently and Sansa could see his scars twitch in a smile.

"Gods, Sandor! You never stop growing!"

Sansa smiled as Sandor rolled his eyes, "it's good to see you, Babs," he growled. Babs linked arms with Sansa and led her into the house while Sandor ordered the carriage to be unloaded and her things sent to her room.

Babs led her up some stairs and to the top floor, chattering about the house all the while, pointing out a painting of her husband fondly or telling her what some rooms were.

"…and this will be your room, I hope it is to your liking" she said happily, opening a door and stepping aside to let Sansa enter first.

The room was very big, arch windows lined the opposite wall, in the middle of which were oak double doors with cross pained windows that led out onto a balcony. A large bed was nestled against one wall, four posters with heavy yellow curtains. A wardrobe sat next to it and a wash basin and jug, bath and chest of drawers. A huge fireplace was built into the wall beside the door they had just entered with a basket of wood sitting beside. A desk and chair with papers and ink-pot and quill sat at the other wall where a door led into another room.

Sansa looked at it questioningly, "ah, that is Sandor's room, nice and close lest you should need him."

"don't you fret, doe, Sandor had told me all about your situation, I am very proud of him for what he has done for you, he always had a gentle heart – not many would know that. I'm sure you know, behind his gruff manner and the scars is a gentle man. "

Sansa smiled at the old woman, loving her already. She was warm and soft and put Sansa's nevouse heart at ease. It seemed she would have a friend here after all.

"I hope the room is to your liking, my dear."

Sansa gazed around et the room – her room.

"it's perfect," she breathed, "thank you, Babs."

The old lady beamed at her, "well I best be getting the rest of the house ready for you both – the maids will bring up your belongings and i'll call you for dinner when it is ready. Don't be afraid to ask for anything and have a look around."

When she was gone and the servants had brought her belongings to her, when Sansa had unpacked and changed into a new dress she sat upon her bed and concentrated on taking everything in. This was it – this was her new life now. She smiled; it was better than she could have imagined.

And yet. Sandor was still distant with her – even more so than after the wedding. The…incident in the inn had truly shaken him. She prayed that things would return to normal again. But that look still haunted her.

She decided to distract herself by exploring. The house was even bigger on the inside than it looked. She found a few more bedrooms, a few parlors, a huge library with more books than Tyrion's. The house was beautiful; all brown oak and dark colors. The windows let so much light in – even in the late setting sun hour. Paintings lined the walls – mostly of landscapes and the occasional portrait of strangers. She wandered through the second floor landing and stopped when she came to a huge window overlooking the sea. The grass of the gardens rolled on beside the house until it met the sandy dunes that were not as steep as they had looked earlier. There was a small, private beach at the bottom, surrounded on either side by the cliffs. The sea stretched on so far and Sansa marveled at it, it's beautiful sparkling surface.

She was about to turn away and continue her exploring when her eyes found a tree near the end of the garden. The tree was huge and just like the ones at home; white bark with blood red leaves. Father always called it a God'swood and when she was younger she would say her prayers in front of it. But what caught her attention was the tall, broad figure of her husband. His back was to the house where he stood, his hands clasped in front of him and head bowed. She frowned wondering what he was doing, but he just stood there. After a long while he bowed and turned, returning towards the house. She watched him until he disappeared into what looked like the stables – or Kennels, he had told her about his family's love for dog breeding for hunting.

"Ah there you are, doe!"

Sansa jumped at Babs' voice and turned from the window, "dinner is ready, come along, my dear," she said, smiling her warm smile and holding her arm out for Sansa to take.

V

Dinner was…awkward.

The dining room was simple; a row of windows at Sansa's back where she sat at the long, oak dinner table. Sandor sat to her right – at the head and Babs to his right – in front of Sansa.

The food was heavenly, everything she could ever have wished for was laid out in front of her and she ate delicately though she wanted to rip at it all with her hands and shove it in her mouth. She was famished.

Sandor spoke to Babs about their travels – only mentioning that it was long but somewhat comfortable and that they were both exhausted from it. He spoke to her about the House affairs and the servants. And Sansa sat in silence.

But she did notice his eyes glancing to her every so often.

After a while, when silence stretched between them, Sansa had had enough, "the house is beautiful, Sandor, you never told me it was next to the beach – I'd never seen the sea before."

She saw Babs smile widely at her out of the corner of her eyes but she held her gaze upon her husband, who looked at her with surprise but a small twitch of his cheek gave her ease.

"I'm glad you like it."

She smiled kindly at him, reaching over to the jug of wine and re filled his glass, and her own, Babs didn't drink wine.

"There is much to do to…occupy you time," he continued, watching her as she filled his cup then took a drink of her own.

"The beach is there if ever you want to see it, you'll like it. The gardens are extensive and the stables have a horse you can ride, there is also a town not far from here you can visit, it's quite like Wintertown…" he trailed of, clearing his throat and taking a long drink of his wine.

"It all sounds wonderful," he said, wanting to reassure him after hearing his nervous voice. He seemed to want her to know she wouldn't be too bored here, but after seeing the place, Sansa couldn't think of being bored. The house was beautiful, perfect.

"I'll be glad to see it all with you," she replied, wanting him to know that she wished to spend time with him, wanting them to be friends again, wanting the barrier between them to disappear.

He took another drink but his cheek twitched.

V