A/N Thank you, thank you so much for reading this fanfic. Those of you who follow and comment, you have my utmost appreciation. Your kind words are motivation. Thank you so much.

The characters belong to GRRM.

This chapter definitely has earned it's "m" rating. So, if you are offended by fictitious smut, skip this chapter.

The ride back to the church was very quiet. Both Sansa and Sandor were deep in their own thoughts. Sandor parked in his usual parking spot by his apartment. He turned his head to look at the amazing woman sitting next to him. He was surprised by her bravery and resolve. She saw an opportunity and took it. Sandor was impressed and proud of her.

Sansa looked at him, mildly sheepish, "Where do we go from here?"

Sandor looked into her beautiful blue eyes. "Let's start by getting cleaned up. You can take a shower and I'll get some laundry started."

Fr. Sam watched curiously as Sandor carried Sansa's bags in one hand, while the other arm was draped protectively over her shoulder, as they walked into the apartment.

Sansa took some fresh clothes out of one bag and went into the bathroom. She heard Sandor ask her to set out the dirty clothes she was removing so he could put them in the wash. She did as she was asked and ran the shower. She couldn't believe how she had changed her own life in less than a week. She got into the shower, the hot steamy water felt so good. She washed her face and her hair, and then started to scrub her body. This was the first time she was free, she had made her own choice for her well being and happiness. Her mind wandered, what if Sandor didn't think it appropriate for her to stay here with him, what if he didn't want a long term commitment? She gasped what had she done? The realization of her freedom and all the pros and cons and all of the bottled up feelings she had been repressing came out, she started to cry and couldn't stop.

Sandor was sorting dirty clothes and he decided he may as well change his bed sheets; there was nothing nicer than being clean and climbing into a bed with fresh sheets. The crying snapped him out of his laundry thoughts. He heard deep gasps and sobs coming from the shower.

He went to the bathroom door; luckily Sansa had not locked it. There she was, standing in the shower, sobbing. She looked bedraggled and pitiful, like a little bird that was caught in a rain storm. "Little Bird, are you alright?" Sandor rasped gently. Sansa's reply was a low howl of despair and sadness. Sandor didn't know what to do. Clearly the emotional baggage had caught up to Sansa. Truth be told, he was so distressed by her cries, he didn't immediately notice her nakedness. She looked up into his eyes "Do you want me to go?" Sandor was confused. "No, I think you should finish your shower. He grabbed the soap and began to wash Sansa's back for her. He rubbed his soapy hands over her shoulders, she was still facing him. Sansa hiccupped and gulped, "No, I mean, am I going to stay here with you? I've never truly been on my own before. What am I going to do?" she asked him, still trying not to panic. That is when Sandor realized why Sansa was upset. "Little Bird, you are going to stay here with me as long as you want to." Sandor soothed, it was almost too good to be true. Sansa didn't want to leave him.

"Do you think Fr. Sam will mind, it's improper for us to live together unmarried."

"Well," said Sandor, taking a deep breath, "I am not personally concerned with the propriety of the church. We can live in sin, we can live together without the sin, or we could get married. I will do whatever makes you happy."

The smile that came across Sansa's face took the breath away from Sandor. He leaned down and kissed Sansa on the lips, running his hands through her hair and down her back. "What I can't figure out, is why a beautiful, smart woman like you wants to stay here with me?"

"Join me in the shower and I'll explain to you why?" Sansa grinned.

Sandor couldn't help himself. He pulled his clothes off and joined Sansa under the water. He hugged her close, running his hands down to her bottom. She had a spectacular ass. It was firm and high. He squeezed it. She was still grinning, took a step back and looked at him. "You are the first person who has been interested in me for me, not for money or power or my looks." She said seriously.

She grabbed the bar of soap and began to lather Sandor's hairy chest. "You are really big." She whispered. Sandor wondered if she was referring to any body part in general. He was enjoying their intimacy, but trying not to overwhelm her. Sandor held her shoulders and looked down her body, drinking in the sight. He gently cupped her small, pert breasts and looked into her eyes for permission. She nodded. He ran his thumb and forefinger over her small pink nipples, watching them respond to his touch. He ran one hand down to her hip, in a gentle caress. She shuddered with pleasure and brought one of her hands up to his scarred cheek. "Be gentle?" she asked quietly. Sandor responded by kissing her lips gently. Her lips parted for him, he ran a tongue over her bottom lip, sucking and nibbling it slowly, loving the way she tasted in his mouth and felt in his hands. She pulled closer to him, gasping when she felt his rock hard, throbbing cock pressed between their bellies.

"Aye, I'll be gentle Little Bird." Sandor rasped into her mouth. "I'll keep you safe. You have nothing to fear."

Sansa nodded, running a soapy hand down between them. She was so curious about Sandor's cock. It was really big. She grasped it. "Rub it," he moaned. She was eager to please.

They stopped kissing, she was watching with curiosity as her hand slip up and down the shaft. She was impressed her touch was the cause of so much pleasure. "Harder." Sandor whispered his fortune too good to be true. "I won't last long, you feel too good." They both grinned at each other. She jerked him off in earnest, surprised by the ferocity in which he came, his hips jerked, his eyes rolled back in his head, and he yelled in delight as his seed spurted in the shower. When he finished, he looked exhausted. Sansa grinned at him accusingly, "The first night I stayed here, during the storm, and you didn't actually slip in the shower, did you?"

"Guilty" Sandor replied "The secret is out, now you know the effect you have on me."