Three moments of Shireen's life through her father's eyes. 3rd person POV, primarily focusing on Stannis. Rated T.

Disclaimer: I do not own Game of Thrones

Rickon Stark

Friday afternoons were perhaps Shireen's favorite, she'd had her Targaryen Love Elegy class early in the day for one. And once classes were over She, Arya, and her cousin Myrcella would all gather in her old bedroom, doing their homework together and talking about their plans for the future. More often now than when they first began this tradition the conversation turned to boys, Myrcella's current boyfriend in particular.

"And he's so sweet," Myrcella sighed as she detailed Trystane's apparently numerous good attributes. Arya rolled her eyes in Shireen's direction, making her laugh under her breath. "He brought me roses when I was sick last month too, an excuse to check on me he said," another love-sick sigh and Arya mimicked gagging.

Myrcella noticed it this time, sitting up from her prone position on the bed to throw one of the pillows at Arya's head. Arya scoffed, catching the pillow and tucking it behind her in the large arm chair Shireen liked to read in.

Shireen smiled as her two best friends bickered, the usual Friday show, "You're really not much better Arya." The looked thrown Shireen's way could probably halt an army in their tracks.

"What is that suppose to me?" Arya growled out, daring the Baratheon girls to say anything. Shireen merely smirked, preferring not to provoke further conflict. Myrcella had no such qualms.

"It means you go goo-goo eyes every time we walk by Mott's Garage on the way back to the dorms," Myrcella mocked, making an only slightly exaggerated portrayal of Arya's face when she thinks Gendry Waters isn't looking.

Shireen laughed out right this time, "It's true, you do make that face. But so does Gendry when he thinks no one can see." Arya crossed her arms defiantly.

"Well, what about you Shireen?" Arya shot back, eyeing her best friend suspiciously, "Didn't you go out with Rickon last weekend?"

"What?!" Myrcella jumped up with her eyes wide open, "When did this happen?"

Arya smirked at the blond, "Last weekend, obviously."

"Last month, actually," Shireen admitted, eyes focused on the floor, "Last weekend was just are first real date."

Arya turned fully in her chair to face Shireen, "Could you repeat that please?"

"Isn't it kind of weird to be going out with a guy that's so much younger than you?" Myrcella interrupted any response Shireen would have had. Her head tilted in curiosity as she tried to make sense of this development.

Shaking her head Shireen said, "A little at first, but he's only four years younger and he graduates high school in May so it's not overly creepy of me." She finally looked up to meet the two pair of eyes that were glued to her face with a hesitant smile, "Is it?"

"Hey, at least we'll all be related," Arya sighed overdramatically, watching Shireen's face bloom red.

"Yeah, because we really need to be more incestuous around here," Myrcella teased, giggling to herself as Arya started shaking from laughter in her chair and Shireen shook her head at the inappropriate turn the conversation had taken.

"Stark Residence," Catelyn Stark's voice was usually more welcome to Stannis's ear, especially after his wife's death seven years ago and her advice regarding his daughter had become more necessary. At this moment it only served to inflame the awkwardness Stannis was feeling.

"Hello, Catelyn," Stannis greeted her, "It's Stannis, I needed to talk to you about something concerning Shireen."

He heard the tell-tale sounds of Catelyn taking a seat, "Of course." She had been a cornucopia of advice and help since their meeting years ago, they often talked for hours about their children. This was vastly different than when they got together with Davos though.

"It involves one of your children as well," Stannis continued, trying to find the most diplomatic way to broach the subject.

A sigh, "What has Arya done now?"

"Not Arya," Stannis clarifies, "Rickon."

"Rickon?" Catelyn seemed surprised, "He hasn't broken anything important has he?"

Stannis was silent, more uncomfortable than before, if that was possible. He cleared his throat, determined to rip the metaphorical band-aid off, "No. Not that I know of anyway." With a defeated sigh he continued, "I caught him and Shireen in her bedroom yesterday, canoodling."

"Canoodling?" Catelyn started laughing, "That's a word I haven't heard in a while." He remained silent and a moment later his words sunk in. "Rickon and Shireen?!" he heard the sound of a chair falling to the floor and knew she had gotten up to pace.

"Yes," Stannis plowed ahead, "Apparently the have been dating, or something to that effect."

There was a few moments of silence and then, "Rickon! Come down here now!"

Over the phone Stannis heard the curious sounds of Catelyn interrogating her seventeen-year-old. She often referred to him as her 'littlest wolf pup.' This moment was likely harder for her than the equivalent had been for him with Shireen.

"Are you dating Shireen Baratheon?" "Sort of." "Sort of? What does that mean? How long?" "Since I asked her out last month." "You asked her out? She's nearly 21 Rickon!" "She's also smart, funny, and totally hot."

Stannis glowered at the phone at that last statement. He didn't like hearing Shireen referred to in such vulgar terms, even in conversations that he was not directly involved in.

"You are far too young to be dating someone in college young man." "Bran dated Jojen when he was in college and Bran was still in high school." "That is entirely different!" "And both Sandor and Willas were twice Sansa's age." "Rickon Stark –." "I'm just saying mom." "You should have at least told me, something both of your siblings did."

"Oh, I'm sorry Stannis," Catelyn seemed to remember just then that he was still on the line. "I didn't mean to -."

"It's quite alright, I understand," Stannis told her, "If you would keep me apprised of any details on their relationships that you unearth I would greatly appreciate it. Shireen's a bit uncomfortable talking about it with me."

"Of course," Catelyn seemed to chuckle almost, "Arya's the same way with me. I'll call you later and we can chat."

"Thank you," Stannis said, "Good day." With an exasperated sigh Stannis set the phone back in its cradle. While Catelyn was likely his closest friend after Davos, dealing with the Starks always left him drained.

"Gods help me," Stannis prayed as he rubbed his temple, "This relationship best end sooner or it'll be the death of me."

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