Thanks for all of the wonderful reviews. I'm glad that you are all enjoying the story. In this chapter, Sansa will see and react to Jaime after learning that she's pregnant.

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Chapter 19

When Jaime returned to his bedchamber to prepare to attend Tyrion's trial, Sansa was nowhere to be found. He wandered into his solar and saw her sitting at his desk, staring off into space. She didn't even notice his presence, she was so deep in thought. I wonder what's weighing on her mind. He stood in the doorway watching her, thinking about how much he wanted to have a life with her. Jaime decided he had gone far too long without having a life of his own. Once this business with Tyrion's over, I'm taking Sansa far away from here. And I'll make sure no one ever hurts her again.

Sansa must have felt his eyes on her because she turned and met his gaze. Her eyes lit up and she smiled softly. She looks happy. As he neared her, Sansa rose to her feet and threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly. He tightened his arms around her, stroking her hair. "Are you all right?"

She nodded against him, kissing him once before resting her head on his shoulder again. "I'm just…I'm glad that you're back…that you're here with me."

"I haven't been gone long enough to miss. Did someone unpleasant come to visit and make you long for my return," he asked mischievously. There's something wrong with her. She's definitely different. Not scared but…something's on her mind.

"Your father came to speak with me," she said, leading him by the hand into their bedchamber.

"What did he want?"

"He…He wanted to know when I would be with child."

He chuckled to himself. Of course he did. My father never has been one to lose sight of his goals. "I'm sorry you had to endure that. I can imagine how my proper little wife felt having such a discussion with Lord Tywin."

She smiled. "He…he told me that you had assured him that…"she trailed off, her face reddening.

"That we bring each other tremendous pleasure in bed? Quite frequently," he asked with a smirk.

She looked horrified. "You didn't say that to him, did you? I'll never be able to face him."

"No," he said, kissing her head, and turning from her to change clothes for the trial. She sat on the bed as Jaime stripped off his tunic. "I simply assured him that we were doing our duty to conceive an heir for House Lannister."

"Jaime…do you wish to have children with me? I know you need an heir, but do you want a child with me? You already-"

"They aren't my children Sansa," he said, as he removed the rest of his clothes and moved to the washbasin. "They were never my children. They were always Robert's children. When Joffrey died, I didn't feel anything a father should feel. Maybe if I had held him when he was a baby..."

Jaime had been there when Joffrey was born, but he was there for Cersei, not the babe. And then, when he was born, and he and Cersei were left alone by all the women who had helped with the birth, she had refused to let him hold the child, insisting that he could not be seen fawning over Robert's children.

"You never held him?" Sansa's quiet voice interrupted his thoughts.

Jaime shook his head as he walked over to his wardrobe. "I've never held any of them. Cersei insisted. She said that it wouldn't due for me to show any interest in them. So I didn't." Jaime pulled on his clothes, noticing Sansa's silence. He walked over and sat beside her, taking her hand. "When we have children, I'll hold them and I will be their father. I will claim them as my own." He leaned over and kissed her. "We'll be a family."

She looked down at her lap, a smile growing on her face. "I miss having a family," she said quietly. She looked up at him. "I'd – I'd like for you to be my family. You and…any children we might have."

Jaime felt his heart react to her words. Sansa's offering me everything I always wanted with Cersei. He leaned over and kissed her. Sansa rested her hands on his neck, looking into his eyes with so much emotion and intensity that Jaime had to look away before he lost himself in his feelings for her.

"Are you ready for the rest of this ridiculous trial?" he asked, helping her to her feet.

She nodded, taking his arm. "Do you think there's any way Tyrion will be acquitted? I know he didn't do this," she murmured as they began walking toward the Throne Room. "Why does Cersei hate him so? He's her own brother."

Jaime glanced over at his little wife. She had a loving family. The Starks are nothing like the Lannisters. I suppose it's difficult for her to imagine hating one of her own as Cersei hates Tyrion. "She's always hated him. From the moment he was born and our mother died. She – and my father – have always blamed him for Lady Joanna's death."

"But you didn't," she said.

"No. He was just a baby. Then…she hated that he was a dwarf. That he wasn't perfect and beautiful like…"

"Like you and Cersei," she finished for him.

"And like you, as well, sweet girl," he said teasingly. "Yes. I expect…she thought it made her less perfect to have such a brother. An indignity she should not have to endure."

They reached the throne room and took their seats in the gallery and Jaime looked over at the Iron Throne, thinking about all of the blood that had been shed for it. He supposed he could have saved his father a lot of trouble by refusing to cede the throne when Eddard Stark arrived with his army and given the throne to his father all those years ago. How is it that I don't desire that ugly chair a fraction as much as my father, my sister, and my brother do? All I've ever wanted was to go somewhere alone with the woman I love. He looked over at Sansa, his beautiful sweet little wife. I suppose she's given me a second chance to do just that.

...

Sansa could barely concentrate on Tyrion's trial. Her head was spinning with thoughts of the child growing inside of her. She glanced at Jaime beside her, and found herself feeling even more tender feelings for him than she had before, now that he was to be the father of her child. She reached over and took his hand, holding it in her lap with both of her small hands. He glanced at her and smiled before turning his attention back to the trial. Sansa held his hand against her stomach, careful that he didn't notice what she was doing.

She had almost told Jaime that she was with child when he returned to their chamber, but she had resisted. I don't want to have my child here, with Cersei and Lord Tywin circling about. She worried that if he knew she carried his child, Jaime would not wish to travel until the babe was born. I don't wish to stay here a moment longer than I have to. Sansa hoped they would leave Kings Landing soon for Casterly Rock, so she could tell him there, in what was to be their home. She felt Jaime's hand tighten on hers, and turned her attention back to the trial.

Her old handmaiden, Shae, was testifying. Sansa couldn't be sure, because she wasn't paying attention, but she thought that she heard her say that Tyrion had forced her to be his whore. Sansa didn't believe it for a moment. Tyrion had never been violent. He had protected Sansa from Joffrey before – the first time he had her stripped and beaten.

"And when I cried, he said I ought to be more grateful, that it wasn't every girl who got to be the king's whore. That was when he told me how he meant to be king. He said that poor boy Joffrey would never know his bride the way he was knowing me." Shae started sobbing then.

"How would killing Joffrey make Tyrion king? It doesn't even make sense," Sansa whispered to Jaime. "She's lying, I know it."

"It doesn't need to make sense. They're determined to condemn him." She could hear the anger in Jaime's voice.

Shae continued her testimony, wiping away her tears. "He made me do such shameful things…"

Prince Oberyn looked curious. "What sorts of things?"

"Unspeakable things. He used me every way there was and…he used to make me tell him how big he was. My giant, I had to call him, my giant of Lannister."

Jaime and Sansa looked around the hall as everyone began laughing with mirth, so loudly it almost shook the iron throne. She felt for Tyrion. She knew what it felt like to be humiliated before the entire court, with no one there to help. What it felt like for those who had been friendly to you to simply watch as you were abused. There were so many members of the court there who watched as Joffrey had her stripped and beaten. And they did nothing.

"MY LORDS!" Tyrion shouted. "Get this lying whore out of my sight," he said, "and I will give you your confession."

Sansa looked at Jaime in alarm. "What is he doing?" she whispered.

"I'm not certain."

"You admit you poisoned the king?" Lord Tywin asked.

"Nothing of the sort. Of Joffrey's death, I am innocent. I am guilty of a more monstrous crime." He took a step toward his father. "I was born. I lived. I am guilty of being a dwarf, I confess it."

"This is folly, Tyrion," declared Lord Tywin. "Speak to the matter at hand. You are not on trial for being a dwarf."

"That is where you're wrong. I have been on trial for being a dwarf my entire life." Sansa glanced over at Jaime who seemed saddened by Tyrion's words.

"Have you nothing to say in your defense?"

"Nothing but this: I did not do it. Yet now I wish I had. I am innocent, but I will get no justice here. You leave me no choice but to appeal to the gods. I demand trial by battle."

"Have you taken leave of your senses?" his father asked.

"No, I've found them. I demand a trial by battle!"

Sansa noticed that Cersei could not have possibly been more pleased, an evil smile overtaking her face. "Let the gods judge. Ser Gregor Clegane will stand for Joffrey. He returned to the city the night before last, to put his sword at my service."

Lord Tywin's face was incredibly dark, and he slammed his fist down on the table too angry to speak. Lord Tyrell turned to Tyrion and asked the question. "Do you have a champion to defend your innocence?"

"He does, my lord." Prince Oberyn of Dorne rose to his feet. "The dwarf has quite convinced me."

The uproar was deafening as Lord Tywin muttered that the battle would be on the morrow and strode from the throne room. Sansa could see that Jaime was distressed about the turn the trial had taken. She reached over and gently rubbed the back of his neck. "Let's go to our chamber," she whispered. "Away from here."

They were silent, walking back to the tower of the hand. "She's done it," he whispered to her. "She'll take his head and no one can stop her."

Sansa didn't answer him until they reached their chamber and she bolted the door as Jaime crossed to sit before the fireplace. "There's still the trial by battle, Jaime," she murmured as she walked towards him, settling on his lap. "Do you not think the Prince can overtake the Mountain? Ser Gregor is…beastly." Jaime didn't answer so she rested her heard on his shoulder. "Why would the Prince help Tyrion so? Why would he endanger his life for him?"

Jaime sighed. "To avenge his sister. When my father's forces took over the Red Keep, when the Mad King lay dead, my father sent Gregor Clegane and Amory Lorch to kill Prince Rhaeger's children – as threats to Robert's throne. They did it so brutally. It would have been easy enough to smother them with a pillow but…the little girl kicked Amory Lorch, so he beat and stabbed her. And the Mountain…after he killed Prince Aegon, the baby, he raped Princess Elia, with her child's blood still on his hands and killed her."

Sansa had nearly stopped breathing at the brutality that Jaime described. She felt him watching her. "I didn't know that's what they were doing. I would have stopped them, Sansa. I would have. The mad king, he had to be killed but the princess and her children…I should have saved them."

Jaime rested his head on her chest and she stroked his hair. "I know you would have saved them, if you could have," she whispered.

"It's been nearly twenty years, and the Prince looks at me as if I'm some sort of monster. I'll never stop being punished for that day."

Sansa held Jaime tighter, wishing to take away his pain. I've been punishing him for his past. I hate that he fathered children with Cersei, but he never betrayed me. Sansa realized that the only way she and Jaime could be happy together – the only way they could move forward - was if she forgot his past.

"Oberyn knew this would give him the opportunity to kill the Mountain. He doesn't care about helping Tyrion," Jaime said quietly.

"We'll have dinner alone together again tonight, Jaime. Just the two of us." She lifted his chin and kissed him. "I love you," she said quietly.

He seemed surprised at her words. She had not repeated them after learning the truth about he and Cersei. But, something had compelled her to say it. She wanted to tell the father of her child that she loved him. I do love him. So much. He didn't answer her. He just gazed into her eyes and she wished she could know what he was thinking.

"I don't deserve your love," he whispered, his eyes moving over her face.

"Yes, you do," she whispered back, softly kissing him again. "You've been so kind and so gentle with me. You have taken away my pain. I was here for so long. All alone. Waiting and waiting for someone to rescue me. You rescued me, Jaime." She kissed him again. "And I love you."

She could see that he wanted to return her words. He's so scared to let himself love someone. Sansa never knew that a man like Jaime could be afraid. She found herself hating Cersei all over again. Jaime's my family now. Jaime and our baby.

That evening, she and Jaime had another quiet dinner alone in his solar, though she could see that he was distracted. No doubt he was trying to think of a way to protect Tyrion. Sansa didn't mind. She was rather distracted herself. After dinner, they ended up curled up on the couch once again. "Did you write that letter to Lady Catelyn?"

She shook her head. "No…I couldn't think of anything to write," she said quietly, ashamed that she had nothing to say to her own mother. "Does she know that we're married?"

"I expect she does."

Sansa nodded. "Do you think…do you think she'll be angry with me? For marrying a Lannister?"

Jaime kissed the top of her head. "I think she will be grateful that her daughter is alive and well." I hope he's right. I don't want my mother to hate me. But I don't regret a moment with Jaime. He fell silent then and Sansa looked up at him. She could see the concern for his brother etched on his face.

"I know what you're feeling," she said hesitantly. "I remember when my father was held prisoner as a traitor. I was so afraid and I…I think you can protect Tyrion better than I could protect my father. Tyrion won't be killed."

"I'm not as certain as you are, Sansa."

"Will you do something to help him, if the Prince loses the battle?" she whispers.

Jaime smiled sadly. "Let us hope it doesn't come to that." She watched as Jaime looked down at his golden hand. He hid it well, but she knew that he still felt shame and anger over his disfigurement. And over his inability to be the swordsman that he once was.

She crawled over him, looking into his eyes. She kissed Jaime, softly at first. He tangled his hand in her hair, pulling her closer to him. I love him so much, she thought to herself. She touched her tongue against his lips and he immediately yielded, opening his mouth and allowing her entrance. She heard him moan low in the back of his throat as they kissed. "Make love to me," she murmured against his lips. He may not be able to say that he loves me, but he can show me.

He reached for the laces on her gown and hesitated. "Is the door bolted this time?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes," she said, swatting him playfully.

He smirked as he covered her lips, giving her a long, lingering kiss. "As you wish, my lady," he murmured, as her clothes fell away and he laid her back on the sofa, kneeling beside her. She watched as Jaime knelt beside her, kissing her mouth, her neck, her breasts and moving lower down her body, kissing her belly. She heard herself squeak as he kissed her belly button, his tongue swirling inside of it before kissing her stomach again. She reached down, running her hands over his hair, holding him over her belly. "Kiss me again," she whispered, hoping he wouldn't realize what she was doing. He looked at her strangely, but softly kissed her stomach again.

Sansa closed her eyes as he continued his path over her body, but the picture of Jaime kissing her belly, which held their unborn child, was one she would not soon forget. She felt so consumed with love for him that she didn't think there was room for anything else.

She turned her head as Jaime rose to remove his own clothes. She felt her stomach flutter as Jaime's tunic fell to the floor and she sat up and reached for the laces of his breeches, slowly unlacing him as he watched her. She had learned to see the desire in his eyes, and it was there now. After she unlaced him, Sansa slid his breeches off, sliding her hands over his hips and ass. She was still embarrassed sometimes at the sight of Jaime's naked body, but she leaned forward, kissing his stomach. She felt his hand tangle in her hair and had a good idea what he wanted. She gently cradled his cock in her hand, rubbing him the way he liked, and kissing him as he moaned. She kept her hand on him as her mouth moved up his body, kissing and licking until she was standing on her tiptoes and kissing his mouth.

Jaime lifted her into his arms and sat on the sofa as Sansa straddled his body. "I'm so lucky to be married to you," he murmured, his mouth closing over one of her nipples.

She threaded her fingers in his hair, sighing with pleasure. "I'm lucky to be married to you," she whispered back. "I love you, Jaime. I love you." He looked at her, pain in his eyes. "What's the matter?"

He held her tightly, burying his face against her neck. "You deserve a man who…" he trailed off, stroking her hair and holding her against him.

"You don't have to say it back. Just show me…show me how you feel about me."

He moved to look at her, resting his forehead against hers. She could see how much he loved her, even though something was stopping him from saying the words. Jaime carefully lowered her onto her back once more, hovering over her body. He kissed her – a long kiss filled with love. "My sweet, sweet girl," he murmured as he entered her, filling her completely. Jaime slowly made love to her, as Sansa clung to him, her heart filled with love for the man who had gave her a family again.

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Hope you enjoyed it! Next chapter: the Trial by Battle and a little Sansa/Tommen interaction