Sansa

Sansa woke to familiar, smiling faces.

Shae and Babs helped her sit up and Sansa whimpered when she remembered the burns. Her neck and shoulder was wrapped tightly in white bandages. She felt some paste over the burns that gave some relief to the pain. They hurt still, but not as much. She looked about, finding herself in Sandor's room.

"You have been asleep for a day and a half," Shae answered her unspoken question.

Everything came rushing back to Sansa and her breathing was difficult and painful, "be careful, Sansa, you have a broken rib and a lot of bruising."

"Where is Sandor?"

"Speaking with the officers," Babs told her, fussing about her pillows, "they came for the body yesterday."

Panic flooded Sansa when she remembered the knife imbedded in Joffrey's back, his body lying still in his blood on the floor.

"They have convicted Joffrey – apparently there were many accounts of him abusing women with your description – many whore owners reported him after his death was announced. His family is answering for his crimes and damage. He would have been hanged for his crimes, It's too bad you killed him, they said," Babs continued, adjusting her into a much comfier position and took her seat again.

Relief overtook Sansa and she slumped back into the warm, soft bed.

At last, she was free.

Shae dabbed her forehead with a cold, wet rag and it felt good.

"Thank you, Shae, Sandor told me of how you caught the spy working for Joffrey."

Shae smiled down at her, "what are sisters for?"

Sansa smiled brightly at her and would have hugged her if Sandor had not burst in at that moment.

He rushed to her side, "Sansa, thank gods you are awake, how are you?" She smiled at him kneeling beside her bed, reaching out to cup his scarred cheek with her hand. He leaned into her touch, covering her hand with both his own then kissing her palm.

"I'm fine, it's over," she said weakly.

Shae and Babs exited the room quietly, lending them privacy together.

"Your scars…" his hand reached out and she could feel his touch though he hovered over the bandages.

She reached up and tangled his fingers with her own, kissing his rough skin, "it's alright, my love, it's over now."

A thousand emotions stormed through his eyes but he stayed quiet, squeezing her hands held in his and kissed her gently.

She felt sleep overcome her and smiled when she felt Sandor's body lie beside her on the bed. He cradled her to his chest, holding her gently but securely. His heat surrounded her and she forgot the pain. He kissed her hair and whispered in her ear then sleep stole her away.

V

A week later, after word had reached them and preparations had been carried out for the journey, the carriage pulled into the drive of Clegane House. Jon and Robb rode in on horses behind it. Jon looked dazzling in his military uniform – red coat with gold buttons. Robb looked so much older; stubble dusted his jaw and cheeks and his auburn hair was thicker, longer.

Sansa leaned against Sandor, grateful for his support; arms linked in her own and holding her hand, the other wrapped around her small waist. The bandages were gone – the doctor saying she needed to air the skin to help it heal, the worst is over, he had said. Where there was still pain, he had Sansa take pills and chew leaves to ease it, her movements were limited but not impossible. The burns were a red and pink and stung to the touch. They ran in horrid, jagged patterns from the skin just under her ear, down her neck and shoulder, down her collarbone and the swell of one breast, down her arm to just below the shoulder. She wore a dress which had a low neckline, and one arm cut off, leaving that entire area clear. She spent much time outdoors, the cool air calmed the hot skin, taking the heat out and relieved the pain better than any drugs. The burns were only light, looking and feeling much worse than they were – nothing compared to what Sandor had endured – to his great relief.

Her side was still very bruised, it had healed well but it was difficult for her to stand. Her lip had been split and her cheek cut, she couldn't even remember the injuries, they healed well too and were not too noticeable under her powder. Her hand where the blade had sliced her skin was bandaged also.

Her mother; thin and pale and tired emerged from the carriage, seeing the scars cried and rushed to her beloved daughter, holding her gently like she would break and showering her cheeks with kisses.

Arya was next – long hair a mess down her back, her face, usually bearing a cheeky grin was worried too. She hugged Sansa and frowned at her bandages, "I would have burned him too, I hate that he did this to you."

Jon kissed her cheek softly and asked how she felt, then greeted Sandor kindly, Robb hugged her gently but close and she closed her eyes in his arms, she had missed him. Bran and Rikkon – they had both grown so much – hugged her and were full of questions that she couldn't answer since they came one after the other.

But it was when her father was before her, looking down at her with solemn, grey eyes that sparkled with tears at the sight of her that her reserve broke. She buried her face in his chest and cried like a babe, Sandor's hand that had been holding her the entire time released her and her father's arms wrapped around her securely. The crying hurt her neck and her shoulder but she didn't care.

Her father's hand rubbed up and down her back and his words were soft and gentle in her ear.

When she had calmed, Babs ushered them all inside, servants took their coats and they all went to the large sitting room that overlooked the sea and gardens. Babs went off to get tea and Sansa's hand reached for Sandor's when she moved to sit with him. Her parents sat opposite them and Arya sat with Robb and Jon at the cards table.

They talked about everything – from the very beginning she told them – with Arya's help – everything that had passed between her, Joffrey and Sandor. They all listened quietly, her mother sighed and frowned and even cried at some parts, but her father remained stoic and quiet. Sansa told them of how she and Sandor had grown to feel for one another – leaving out the incident in the Inn – and that they both now loved each other, as man and wife.

She smiled when Sandor's hand squeezed her own and she leaned against him, relieving the ache in her side a little.

The day passed in a blur; but everything seemed to be working out.

Arya and Jon took Bran and Rikkon to the beach. Sansa spoke with Robb about Jeyne for some time, he begged her to be at the wedding and she laughed, "of course I will! I wouldn't miss it for the world!"

She glanced over and saw her mother speaking deeply with Sandor, even laughed softly at something he said and looked over to her fondly.

When everyone returned from the beach, Arya's dress was soaked to the waist and she was dribbling puddles everywhere. Her mother shouted, alarmed and her father scolded her for not being careful, but Sansa only laughed and took her upstairs to lend her one of her own dresses.

While Arya sat in one of Sansa's petticoats before the fire, warming herself while Sansa selected a dress that would fit her, she asked her about the letter from Sansa that Joffrey had interrupted. Sansa told her the contents and Arya grinned when she told her that yes, she truly did love Sandor.

"I knew it! I knew it ever since he saved up that day at the Tyrells!"

Sansa laughed, "oh Arya, I have missed you," she hugged her sister close.

The Stark family stayed for a week, growing to love Sansa's new home as she had. Sansa smiled and laughed and was overjoyed to see her family accept Sandor into the family. Everything was falling into place, everything would be fine.

It was over now, she was free.

V

Sandor

The house was a buzz with the little bird's family's departure. Their carriage was loaded and ready to go and they were saying their goodbyes.

He smiled when Sansa cried, clutching to her parents in farewell. She kissed her brothers all goodbye – the little ones wiping their cheeks disgusted but her older ones kissing her softly and hugging her.

When Arya threw her arms around her sister's waist Sansa laughed and staggered back slightly, but Sandor reached out and steadied her with a touch to her back.

When they all went to the carriage, Sansa went with them, waving and smiling and leaning in the window to speak final words to her mother - promises to visit – Eddard Stark approached him.

"Sandor I…I thank you, sir. For all you have done for our daughter. I believe I misjudged you, I am glad she had you to count upon."

Sandor nodded, mumbling that it was no inconvenience, usual pleasantries that her father accepted gravely.

"I am also to understand from my daughter that you and her…share an understanding. That this arrangement at first to be one to keep her safe now in fact is one of love."

Sandor raised his head, looking directly into they eyes that looked a great deal like his own, but lighter, "yes, sir."

"Do you love Sansa, Sandor?"

"I do, I love her very much."

The older man nodded, a small, almost undetectable smile on his lips, "Then you have my blessing."

He held out his hand and Sandor shook it, his grip firm and strong.

"Welcome to the family." This time he did smile, eyes creasing and he looked a few years younger.

He turned and went to the carriage, kissing the little bird goodbye once more and stepping in, shutting the door behind himself.

Sansa waved them off, walking backwards slowly until she was back at his side, leaning against him which he knew was to relieve the pain from her small body.

When the carriage was out of sight, she turned to him, grinning up at him, pressing her body against his, and resting her chin on his chest.

"I love you, Sandor," she said then, his fingers caressing her soft hair, the other hand around her small waist.

"Aye. And I you, little bird."

He kissed her and felt – for the very first time – that perhaps there really was a god up there, blessing him.

- Fin -

Well, that was fun, not going to lie I am glad it is over – this fanfic took up A LOT of my time haha but I really really enjoyed writing it.

Thank you everyone so so so much for reading! Thank you for all the AMAZING reviews, you guys are the best and please keep them coming!

Ps. I'm thinking up a nice little regency era fanfic for Arya/Gendry – unrelated to this, taking on a very different story buuuuuut it might not get posted for a while. I'm just starting art Uni and I'm currently packing to move out so I won't have time for a while.

Thanks again everyone!

-Vee