Thanks you all of you who continue to enjoy this story. I love reading all of your comments and exploring the different characters and their relationships with one another. I was hoping with this chapter, to give Arya a better understanding of Sansa and why she loves Jaime as much as she does.

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Chapter 37

Sansa snuggled closer to Jaime, burrowing her face against his chest. It was still dark out, as the sun had just begun to peek out on the horizon, and she wasn't ready to wake up yet. She felt Jaime's hand softly rub her back as his arm tightened on her waist, holding her against him. She kissed his chest and slowly moved her mouth up to his neck. She nuzzled against his neck and felt Jaime's hand move up to tangle in her hair and felt his mouth against her temple.

Jaime sighed in pleasure as he moved to kiss her mouth. "Good morning, beautiful girl," he whispered against her mouth.

"Good morning," she whispered back, wrapping her arms around his neck and returning his kiss.

He shifted to hold her fully in his arms as she cuddled under the furs. "Did you sleep well?" She nodded against him, resting her head against his chest. Jaime held her in his arms, kissing and touching her, as the sun rose over Lannisport. Sansa wished she and Jaime could stay as they were forever. Warm in their bed, buried under the furs and in each other's arms.

"I should go speak to my soldiers," he said reluctantly, as the daylight streamed in through the windows. "They are in need of a bit of direction, now that we've reached the Rock. I don't expect the war to come to us here, but they need to be prepared. And winter is coming, as you Starks are so fond of reminding us all," he said with a smile. The staff had begun to amass provisions and prepare the castle for winter, but there was still much to be done.

"Do you have to go now?" Sansa asked as Jaime slid from her arms.

He chuckled, leaning over to kiss her. "I can't spend all morning in bed with you. However sorely I am tempted. You stay here and rest. I'll come back for you in a few minutes and we'll go downstairs to break our fast. All right?" She nodded, curling up in the huge four-poster bed, watching him walk naked to his closet. She felt a bit warm and fought off the wave of desire that crashed over her. The past few weeks, Sansa had noticed that she was much more sexually aware of Jaime. Why have I suddenly become so wanton?

After Jaime left, Sansa snuggled under the covers and closed her eyes. She had not thought that she would like Casterly Rock as much as she did. She had feared it would remind her of King's Landing, but she was wrong. The Rock actually felt like home to her. Perhaps because I know this is where my baby will be born. Sansa rubbed her hand over her belly as she thought about all of the efforts Jaime had made to ensure that she felt at home here. Not just making sure that she had beautiful rooms but showing her that she was not a guest here – but that she was the Lady of the Castle. She knew that Casterly Rock was hers and Jaime's.

"Sansa? Sansa?" Arya was calling from Sansa's bedchamber and she was about to get out of bed to speak to her when she saw Arya's head peek in the entrance to Jaime's bedchamber. "Sansa?"

Sansa slid back under the covers as her sister walked toward her. "How did you get in here?"

"I was looking for you and the Kingslayer said you were here."

"Ser Jaime," she corrected in annoyance. Sansa wasn't sure how to proceed, sinking further under the covers, embarrassed for her sister to find her naked in Jaime's bed. She knew it was silly, since Jaime was her husband, but she was uncomfortable with her little sister seeing her in such a state.

"Isn't that your bedchamber in there? Why are you sleeping here?"

"Jaime's my husband and I wanted to sleep next to him. I … I feel safer with him beside me." That's true, at least.

Sansa could see Arya's eyes scanning over the bed and Sansa's robe discarded on the ground. "You're naked. Does he sleep naked too?"

Oh, Gods. "Why are you here so early?" Sansa asked, desperate to change the subject.

She saw that her sister was curiously looking around Jaime's bedchamber. "Mother's still sleeping and I saw Ser Jaime was awake." She picked up Jaime's sword. Or tried to at least, since it probably weighed half as much as she did. "How long are we going to stay here?" Arya asked, walking over and slumping down on the bed.

Sansa sighed, sitting up in the bed and wrapping a bedsheet around herself to cover her breasts. "Where would you propose to go?"

"Back home."

"That's not going to happen, Arya," she said gently. "Not for a long time. Winterfell is gone. Theon burned it to the ground. This is our home now."

"Maybe it's your home, but it's not mine. You're a Lannister, not me." Arya was quiet for a few moments as she studied her hands before looking back at her sister. "Sansa? You love the Kingslayer, don't you?" Sansa shot her a look. "All right, Ser Jaime. You're in love with Ser Jaime, aren't you?"

"Yes. He's been very kind to me," Sansa said quietly, hoping this wasn't going to go the way her conversation with her mother went on the topic of Sansa's feelings for Jaime.

"Is it because he's a knight? You always wanted to marry a knight."

She laughed. "No. It's true, I did always dream of marrying a handsome knight." And Jaime does look quite dashing in his armor. "Then I was…afraid of knights." Sansa twisted her fingers together nervously. "I don't love Jaime because he's a knight. I don't care about that."

"Then why? Mother said –"

"I don't want to hear anything mother has to say about Jaime." She wasn't going to allow her mother to turn her against Jaime. And she didn't want her to turn Arya against him either. Anymore than she already was, anyway.

"It's just…you said you loved Joffrey too, when-"

"Jaime is nothing like Joffrey," Sansa hissed, sitting on the edge of the bed and wrapping the bedsheet around her further. "Don't ever compare him to Joffrey. I want to show you something." Sansa could feel her chin quivering as she stood beside the bed, turning away from Arya. Sansa took a deep breath before uncovering herself to the waist, allowing Arya to see the scars covering her back.

She heard her little sister gasp, and Sansa bit her lip to keep from crying at how horrible her scars must be to shock Arya. She had not looked at them herself since the day she married Jaime. Sansa flinched at the feel of Arya's fingers on her back, tracing over her scars.

"How did you get these?" she asked quietly.

Sansa stared at the wall, letting her sister touch her scars. "When Robb won his first battle…Joffrey brought me before the entire court, as he sat on the throne, and he pointed a crossbow at me. He said that the queen wouldn't let him kill me because Robb had Jaime as a prisoner. But he said that he would punish me for Robb's victory. He had the Kingsguard rip off my clothes and made me stand there, naked, as they beat me before the court. It happened again and again. He would strip me and watch as they beat me or whipped me. The last time it happened…was the night Jaime returned to the Red Keep. And he saw what they were doing to me."

She turned around and faced Arya, clutching the bedsheet to her chest. "I was so humiliated, that Jaime saw me like that, naked and…bleeding, but he covered me with his cloak and he made them stop. He took me back to my chamber. He told his father that he would marry me. To protect me. Jaime promised me that no one would ever hurt me again. And they haven't. He never let Joffrey hurt me."

Sansa had started to cry and crawled back onto the bed. She felt Arya sit beside her, putting her arm around her. "You're safe now, Sansa. I won't let anyone hurt you."

"When Jaime… on our wedding night when Jaime first saw…" Sansa gestured toward her back. "I started to cry because Joffrey had left me scarred and I didn't want him to look at me. I didn't want him to think I was ugly. But Jaime told me I was beautiful...that I was strong." She wiped her eyes and sniffed. "Mother hates me and…you probably do too. But I love him. Jaime protected me and he made me believe that I was safe. And he…I need him," she whispered, looking down at her hands.

"I don't hate you," Arya whispered, hugging her. "I'm sorry, Sansa. I don't hate you."

Sansa wrapped her arm around Arya, taking some comfort from her sister. They had never been close growing up, but she took comfort from her presence. "Will you hand me that?" she asked, gesturing to her robe on the ground. Arya handed it to her and as Sansa put it on, she noticed Arya staring at her stomach. The baby inside her was growing so much, and her pregnancy was quite noticeable, especially without her clothes on. She had not told her sister that she was with child, and she supposed their mother had not spoken a word about it either, given her feelings about Sansa having Jaime's child.

"Sansa?" she asked in a small voice. "Are you…"

"Yes. I'm going to have a baby."

She saw her sister's eyes widen. "That's why you sleep here. So he can…fuck you?"

"Don't use that word."

"Fine, do you sleep here so he can make love to you?"

"You're too little to talk about such things."

She could see that Arya was outraged at being told she was too little for anything. "Why? I've been a brothel. I've seen people fuck. It was dark, but I know that's what they were doing."

Sansa was shocked to hear such words from her little sister's mouth. "Well pretend you haven't. Don't ever speak of that again."

"Why not?"

Sansa sighed. "It's not a proper topic of conversation."

She heard Arya mumble something under her breath before she started looking curiously at her swollen belly again. "What does it feel like? To have a baby in your belly?"

Sansa smiled. "I felt it move last night…it's the first time I felt it. Mostly I feel tired. And hungry." She looked at Arya. "I was happy when I found out I had a baby growing inside me. I was so happy that I'll have a family again." Arya was quiet and continued to look at Sansa's swollen belly.

"Can I…can I touch it?" she asked, gesturing to her sister's stomach.

"If you wish. You can't feel anything yet… Jaime couldn't feel it move last night."

Arya hesitantly rested her hand on Sansa's stomach. "I don't remember when mother was with child. Do you?"

Sansa nodded. "With Rickon. She let me…feel him kick when he was inside her."

"I miss him," Arya whispered. "And Bran and Robb and Father."

"Me, too," she said, feeling tears form in her eyes as she thought about the family she had lost. She hesitantly hugged Arya, trying to comfort her.

"Can I write to Jon at the Wall?"

"I'll ask Jaime. Arya, will you please try to get along with him? Please?" She nodded, her eyes cast down. "He's important to me, Arya. He's someone who became my family when I had none. It's like how Gendry is important to you. "

"I don't fuck Gendry."

Sansa closed her eyes in annoyance. "I feel like I've returned at a bad moment," Jaime said with an amused voice from the doorway.

Sansa met his eyes and frowned, trying to convey that she did not wish for him to encourage Arya's filthy mouth and unladylike manners. He walked over slowly and seemed a bit concerned. He must see the unshed tears in her eyes. "Are you all right?"

"I was just telling Arya that she's going to be an Aunt."

He reached over and stroked Sansa's hair, looking at Arya carefully; no doubt gauging her reaction. "When will the baby come?" Arya asked.

"Not for a few months," Sansa answered and Arya nodded removing her hand from Sansa's belly.

"Would you like to break your fast with us this morning?" Jaime asked Arya.

She looked up at him, then at Sansa. "All right," she said quietly and Sansa smiled. She knew Arya was making the effort she had asked her to make.

"Why don't I head downstairs while you get ready. I'm sure Arya would like to keep you company. And I'll send Pia up to help you?"

Sansa nodded as he gently cupped her face. "Thank you."

"The guards will make sure you don't get lost finding your way to the dining room. Little sister, is there anything special you'd like for breakfast?"

Arya glared at him and shook her head no. "She likes ham," Sansa volunteered. "And I expect you haven't had any since leaving King's Landing." She didn't even want to think about what her sister had done to survive for the past year they had been separated.

"Ham it is," Jaime said, kissing the top of Sansa's head as he left.

"Thank you, Arya" Sansa said quietly. "Come on," she said, standing and taking her little sister's hand, leading her to her bedchamber. Arya had always hated watching Sansa get ready, but she'd been a bit more tolerant of late, since it did give them the chance to be together. They still got on each other's nerves, but they both appreciated having a sister again.

...

Sansa, Jaime and Arya sat in silence at one end of the long dining table breaking their fast. Sansa nibbled at her bread and sliced meat, glancing at Jaime beside her. She couldn't help feeling happy to be sitting at a meal with her husband and her little sister. Even if the conversation was a bit lacking. And awkward.

Lady Alys, the wife of Jaime's steward, walked in, following a maid who was carrying a plate of eggs. "Would you like some, my dear?" Lady Alys asked, sitting beside Sansa. "It would be good for the babe," she said quietly.

"All right." Sansa didn't know what she was supposed to do differently now that she was with child. She did have a larger appetite and she tired more easily. Sansa didn't know much about being pregnant. She didn't know if there were special things she was supposed to eat, or drink for the child. She didn't know if there were things she wasn't supposed to do. Perhaps Lady Alys will answer my questions…since mother won't speak to me.

"It's so exciting, Sansa. I remember when Jaime was just a tiny little bundle in his mother's arms and now he's to be a father." She looked over at Jaime. "If Lady Joanna were still with us, she would be overjoyed. As would Lord Tywin." Lady Alys smoothed her hand over Sansa's shoulder before picking up her tea.

Jaime was rather fond of Lady Alys. Her husband spent most of his time holed up in his office in Casterly Rock, near the Maester. Jaime had told Sansa that his steward rarely left his office because he took his responsibilities as the steward of the Lord of Casterly Rock quite seriously. Jaime had said that Lady Alys would be able to help her familiarize herself with the castle, and answer any questions she had.

Jaime turned and considered Arya. "Little sister, did you know, I fought beside your father during the Greyjoy rebellion?"

She looked up at him, her curiosity and desire to hear a story about her father outweighing her annoyance at Jaime calling her little sister. "Where did you and my father fight?"

"We fought together in Pyke. At the end of the Rebellion, when we took the castle."

Sansa smiled to herself as he and Arya discussed the final battle of the rebellion and lowered her hand below the table, resting it on Jaime's knee and squeezing it in thanks. He met her eyes and smiled.

She felt Lady Alys watching her and turned her head. Sansa smiled at the kindness in the older woman's gaze. "I've arranged for a midwife to come from Lannisport to look at you and Lady Tully this morning. Afterwards, perhaps I could introduce you to your household staff."

She could feel Jaime's eyes on her, no doubt wondering if she would be all right on her own. Sansa realized that she had kept quite close to Jaime lately. I need to be brave. This is my home and there's no reason be afraid. She smiled brightly at Lady Alys. "Thank you. I would like that."

"I think perhaps I'll head to the armory and then to the training grounds," she heard Jaime muse, now that he saw she'd be safe and occupied for the morning.

"Where are the training grounds?" Arya asked curiously.

"Down on one of the lower levels of the Rock. Near the stables and exercise grounds for the horses."

"Are you practicing with Ser Ilyn?" Sansa asked.

"No. Ser Addam had accepted my challenge." Sansa looked at Jaime in surprise. "I thought…I should try a new opponent." She smiled, glad that he'd gained enough confidence, and that enough of his skill had returned, that he no longer felt the need to practice in secret.

"Can I go?" Arya's voice rang out as Jaime rose to his feet. Jaime and Sansa both turned to look at her. "Can I go with you to the training grounds? I just want to watch you fight."

"I suppose I can tolerate your company for a morning," Jaime said matter-of-factly as Sansa looked at him in annoyance, no doubt preferring to discourage the child's interest in the un-ladylike. Jaime leaned over and kissed her cheek. "Didn't you want us to get along better?" he whispered, kissing her once more before turning to leave. "Come along, little sister."

Sansa smiled nervously at Lady Alys as Jaime strode out of the dining room and Arya ran along beside him, annoyed at his insistence on calling her "little sister" but also thrilled at the prospect of watching real knights practice. Oh, gods, I hope they don't kill one another.

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I'm trying to keep the story realistic in terms of Jaime and Arya's relationship. I think she would be intrigued by him (as she was when the royal family arrived at Winterfell) but not trusting anything Lannister after all that has happened. Let me know how you liked it!

Next Chapter: Jaime and Arya spend some time together