A/N: Here's the short little epilogue I promised! Thanks again everyone!

Epilogue

The house phone rang, cutting through the voices on the television. Sansa reluctantly left the comfort of Sandor's arms to answer it, straightening her sweater and leggings as she went. The phone rang shrilly once more before she grabbed it off the plastic cradle. "Hello?" "Sansa, honey…I guess you've seen the weather report?" answered Catelyn Stark.

Sansa balanced the phone on her shoulder while she reached into the cupboard for two mugs. "Yes. I'm sorry, Mom. It looks like Sandor and I won't be able to make it over tonight." That much she had known since early that afternoon when the snow had started falling in earnest. It was why she and Sandor hadn't even bothered dressing appropriately or packing their things.

"I understand. It just doesn't seem right to not have you two here for Christmas," her mother continued with a sigh. Sansa filled the mugs with milk and put them in the large microwave. "I know. There's just no way we can drive in this weather. Most of the roads are shut down. Maybe we'll be able to make it sometime tomorrow. I'll give you a ring, okay?" "Okay, honey. Tell Sandor we said Merry Christmas. I will, and I love you too, Mom. Bye." Sansa placed the phone back and focused on retrieving the ingredients for hot cocao.

Waiting for the milk to heat, Sansa walked to the kitchen window and looked out at the heavy snowfall. She was in a contemplative mood, and her thoughts began to wander and reflect on the past.

It had been two years since she and Sandor had become a couple. Ned and Catelyn had not been overly ecstatic, though her father seemed more willing to accept it, somehow. Catelyn was won over after she saw how respectful and protective Sandor was of Sansa, and that their relationship was much healthier than Sansa's and Joffrey's had been. Her siblings eventually took a liking to him, even Arya, though it was certainly a love-hate comradery.

Sandor had quite working for the Baratheons and got a job in security for a company branch with Stark Industries. He was still able to use his skills from being a war-vet and doing security for Robert, and the experience earned him a lot of respect from other personnel.

Sansa had gone back to college for the spring semester, but she transferred to a university at home the next year, wanting to be close to Sandor and her family. And with Joffrey out of the picture, she didn't feel the need to escape. Her parents were actually in favor of her decision and even helped her get an apartment with her old friend Jeyne Poole. The new university was smaller but still had a fabulous English Arts program, and Sansa felt comfortable and happy. Getting to see Sandor much more often was a plus, and the two spent as much time as they could together.

That Christmas he proposed, and after six months of hectic, exciting wedding planning, they were married. Sansa was still finishing school working as an online article writer, and even though they were both busy Sansa had never been happier. She hadn't thought she would be married this young; Sandor had even told her they could wait a couple of years if she wanted. But the minute he proposed, Sansa wanted to marry him as soon as possible. She loved him, and he loved her, so why would they wait?

Sandor took her on a honeymoon to Colorado, and when they got back they moved into a new house about thirty minutes from her family.

Now it was their first Christmas as a married couple, and they were stuck at home, snowbound. They were supposed to go over to her parents' house and spend the night so everyone would be there Christmas morning, but the storm had put a stop to all that.

The microwave beeped, jostling her out of her thoughts, and Sansa pulled out the mugs and set them on the counter. She poured in the cocoa mix and stirred, then added marshmallows and cinnamon. Blowing on them each in turn, she carried them back out to the living room.

She and Sandor had made a giant "nest", as he called it, on the ground in front of the couch, using all the comforters and pillows in the house. The only lights came from a candle on the table, the Christmas tree, and the flicker of the television. It was a miracle the electricity still worked.

Sansa handed a mug to Sandor and carefully sat down again, burrowing under some of the blankets and snuggling into his side. "You mother?" he asked, blowing off some of the steam from the cocoa. "Yes. She's disappointed, but she understands there's no way we can drive out there." He shrugged and nodded. "It happens."

She took a sip of the cocoa and smiled, resting her head against his shoulder. "I like this, though. It's kind of nice, having our first Christmas just with each other." There was no pressure to do certain things or have a fixed pattern of how the day should go. She and Sandor could just do whatever they wanted, eat whatever they wanted, and sleep in to whatever time they desired.

He chuckled and kissed her head. "Aye. I like it too." Stormy left her doggy-bed in the corner and came to join them, lying on the top comforter. Sansa giggled and ran her fingers through the dog's fur. "Stormy, did you make all the snow fall, hmm?" The dog simply licked her fingers and curled up lazily.

In quiet contentment, Sansa and Sandor watched the TV, occasionally flipping between movies. Outside the storm raged on, beating the house with an inane amount of snow, but inside everything was cozy and warm. When midnight struck, Sansa took their mugs and set them aside, then crawled into Sandor's lap. "Merry Christmas," she whispered against his mouth. Sandor held her tightly, kissing her back eagerly, his mouth tasting like chocolate. "Merry Christmas, little bird."

A/N: Thank you for all your love and supporting this story!