Thank you all for continuing to read and I appreciate all of the wonderful comments. I appreciate all of the continued support for this story.

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Chapter 47

Sansa felt the morning sunlight against her eyelids and slowly opened her eyes. She groaned at the soreness between her thighs, reminding her that she had given birth only hours earlier.

"Are you all right? Do you need the midwife? Or the Maester?" Jaime whispered, stroking her hair. She closed her eyes briefly as he kissed her forehead, before meeting his eyes again.

"I'm all right. Just very sore but…the pain's not terrible," she whispered. Sansa looked down at the infant, curled against her breasts, asleep, and smiled softly. Little Julianna had woken them several times in the night, hungry and crying. Jaime had sat up with Sansa as she nursed Julianna and he had also insisted on holding and comforting their tiny infant himself during the night. She could see how much Jaime already loved their baby girl and wanted to help care for her.

"It's hard to believe I had any part in creating her, isn't it?" he asked, resting his hand on Sansa's hip, the infant fast asleep between them.

Sansa shook her head. "There's good in you Jaime," she whispered, touching his face. "Thank you for staying with me. And for making sure my mother was with me last night."

"It seemed you needed her."

Sansa nodded. "I was so scared." The truth was, she had been terrified. Sansa had never felt such pain or such a loss of control over her own body – not even when Joffrey was having her beaten. Jaime's presence helped, but she had always imagined that her mother would be with her when she gave birth to her children. Her mother was able to comfort her in a way no one else could. Lady Catelyn had always made her feel safe – ever since she was a little girl.

"You were quite brave, Sansa." He met her eyes. "I was scared as well."

"You were? Of what?"

"That you would suffer the same fate as my mother did. When you were screaming in pain…it was as my mother screamed. When she was birthing Tyrion. When she died." He brought her hand to his mouth. "I don't know what I would do if I lost you. Perhaps I'd become as hard as my father was." Sansa hated to think of what would happen to Jaime if they were ever parted. She saw that he needed her in his life as much as she needed him.

Sansa sat up, careful not to awaken the baby, and leaned over to kiss Jaime. He didn't hesitate to return her kiss. As Jaime's fingers trailed over her body, she realized she was wearing nothing but her smallclothes. "Jaime, will you get me one of your tunics to wear?"

He leaned back and gazed at her, his eyes roaming over her breasts. "You don't wish to receive visitors as you are? I must say, you look even lovelier than before the babe was born." She blushed, as his eyes roamed over her swollen breasts.

"Please?"

He chuckled, getting out of bed and scooping up his tunic from the floor, which he dropped over her head, kissing her cheek, before pulling on his breeches and walking to look out the window. "Looks like we got a fair bit of snow last night." He glanced back at Sansa. "Rather appropriate for the arrival of our little winter girl."

There was a soft knock at the door, and Jaime opened the door for Pia who was carrying a tray of breakfast. Sansa looked at Jaime triumphantly before leaning over the tray and selecting a piece of warm bread, layering cold meat and cheese on it – she was clearly right that they should put some clothes on. Jaime simply smirked at her in response, swiping a piece of cold meat off the tray.

"Lady Lannister, would you like my help bathing this morning?" she asked quietly.

Sansa looked at Jaime in question and he nodded. "I'll look after the babe."

Pia helped Sansa out of the bed, looking curiously at the sleeping infant. "She's very beautiful," Pia said quietly. She had been there when the babe was born, but she had not had the opportunity to speak to her lady about the babe. Sansa smiled as Pia took her arm and led her to the bathing room. Sansa nibbled on her breakfast, listening as Pia told her how lovely Julianna was and how much she admired Ser Jaime for staying with her in the birthing chamber.

Sansa felt much better after bathing, having a bite to eat and putting on a fresh dressing gown. She didn't plan to leave her chamber, but she expected Arya and Roslin, at the very least, would wish to come see Julianna. Pia had washed her hair and plaited it back to keep it out of her way while she nursed the new baby.

Sansa returned to her chamber and found that Jaime and the babe were not there. She then walked into his chamber, where they normally slept, and saw Jaime seated before the fire, holding their little one against his bare chest, softly stroking her little arms and fingers as she gazed up at him. Sansa lingered in the doorway and watched Jaime's expression as he spent time bonding with their child.

After she'd been born, Sansa had wanted to be sure that Jaime got to hold her, even before she did, remembering how he'd never been able to hold Joffrey, Myrcella or Tommen. She wanted him to feel a bond with their little girl and it was clear to her that he did.

"I promise, no one will ever harm my little lioness," she heard him murmur. He's so in love with this baby, Sansa thought with a smile. Who would have thought that a fierce warrior like Jaime Lannister – the man called Kingslayer – would be at the mercy of a tiny little girl? Sansa thought she'd never loved Jaime more than she did in that moment, watching him with their infant.

When Sansa had first examined Julianna the night before, she was struck by how much the infant's features looked like her own. Though, she was delighted to see Jaime's glittering eyes staring back at her from the face of her daughter. Jaime was endearingly smitten with his daughter already. She had no doubt that he loved the child as a father should.

"Sansa." She met Jaime's eyes at the sound of her name. "Come sit with us." Sansa smiled and walked over, slipping onto his lap. Jaime wrapped his arm around Sansa, as he held the infant in the crook of his arm.

She ran her fingers through Jaime's hair and tilted his chin up to kiss him. "I love seeing you with her. I know she's safe and happy, having a father to look out for her. Who loves her."

He kissed her gently. "I love you, too, sweet girl."

The baby began fussing and Sansa unlaced the front of her gown, and settled into the other chair. Jaime carefully handed Julianna to her, kneeling on the carpet before her. Sansa stroked her little hand as the babe began to suckle and Jaime remained where he was, resting his hand on Sansa's knees and watching her nurse their baby. She met Jaime's eyes, smiling at the little purring noises the babe was making and Sansa reached out to stroke Jaime's hair. In that moment, with her babe at her breast and Jaime lovingly watching, Sansa felt like everything was perfect.

There was a soft knock on the door and Jaime reluctantly left Sansa's side, opening the door to allow Arya admittance. She curiously crept to Sansa's side, looking at the babe in her sister's arms.

"She's so small," Arya whispered, as Jaime left the sisters alone and headed into the bathing room.

"I know. Isn't she perfect?" Sansa said with a soft smile as Arya leaned on the arm of Sansa's chair.

"Did you name her?" she asked, gently petting the baby's arm.

Sansa nodded. "Julianna."

"Julianna," Arya repeated. "You were screaming very loud last night," Arya said quietly. "I was afraid."

"Me, too," she whispered, looking down at the babe, who was gazing up at her with those glittering green eyes. "Do you wish to hold her?"

"Can I?"

Sansa nodded. "Sit back in the chair, there." Arya did as she was told and Sansa carefully laid the baby in her arms. Sansa laced up the front of her gown and smiled as Julianna began making little cooing noises while Arya awkwardly held her in her lap. "Mother says she looks like you did when you were a baby…but with Lannister green eyes."

"I'm glad you brought her to me last night. Did she…how did you convince her to come?"

"Mother came with me right away, when I said you were having the baby. After I told her that Jaime said you needed her."

I did need her. "You're an aunt now," Sansa said, smiling as she watched Arya's eyes curiously scan the baby in her arms. "Thank you, Arya."

"For what?"

"For giving Jaime a chance. I'm glad that the two of you are friends."

"He's all right," Arya whispered and Sansa giggled at her stubborn insistence on remaining indifferent to Jaime. "You know he likes you, Sansa. A lot."

Sansa smiled to herself. "I like him too. A lot. I love him."

Arya scrunched up her nose in disgust as Sansa's words. "He's better than Joffrey."

"That's not very high praise, Arya," she said smiling and gently touching her daughter's head. "It's hard to believe she was in my belly only yesterday."

"She's doesn't do much, does she?" Arya asked, watching the babe close her eyes as she drifted off to sleep.

Sansa took Julianna back in her arms, sitting in her own chair and cuddling the baby against her chest. "You'll probably find her more interesting when she gets to be a bit older."

Arya considered her niece. "I think you should let Jaime teach her be a sword-fighter."

Sansa rolled her eyes. "No. My daughter will have no need of a sword." Sansa kissed the babe's forehead, feeling peaceful and happy.

…

Sansa sat in the nursery, rocking the baby in her arms as Jaime and Arya sparred up on the practice field. Jaime had been reluctant to leave her, but Sansa had assured him she would be fine by herself for a few hours. She enjoyed the time alone with her new baby. It was still difficult for her to believe that she was a mother now.

She smiled down at her babe as she quietly hummed a song. "I love you, my sweet little girl," she whispered. "I promise…we'll not be separated. You, and your father and I will always be a family. I'll never let anyone take him from you, as my father was taken from me." She heard a soft knock on the door and looked up, surprised to see her mother standing in the doorway.

"May I come in?" she asked.

Sansa nodded, shifting the babe in her arms, curious about why her mother had come to her rooms. Her mother leaned forward a bit to look at the babe's face, smiling softly, before sitting on the sofa beside Sansa. "Did you come to see the baby?" she whispered.

"And you. How are you feeling?"

Sansa was surprised her mother had come to see her. She looked down at her daughter's face before answering her mother. "I'm well. I'm tired and…a bit sore, but I'm all right. I'm glad she's finally here. Thank you, mother…Thank you for being with me. I didn't think you would want to. After everything."

Sansa looked at her mother and saw regret in her eyes. "Sansa, I'm sorry that you felt you couldn't ask me to be with you. A girl should have her mother with her for the important moments in her life."

She nodded. "I was sorry that you weren't there when Jaime and I married…I had so many questions and fears and…I always thought you would be there the day I got married. I'm glad you were with me when Julianna was born." Sansa gently ran her finger over the babe's cheek. "Would you like to hold her?"

Lady Catelyn gently took the babe from Sansa's arms. Sansa watched her mother look at the sleeping infant, gently stroking her little hand. "I remember, like it was yesterday, what it was like to hold you in my arms. You were just as tiny…just as perfect. She looks just like you did. Even during those first few days, I had so many dreams for you…made so many plans for you in my head." She looked at Sansa. "I imagine you have already begun dreaming about her future." Sansa smiled to herself, since her mother was correct. Sansa had already promised herself that her little girl would not see the pain that she had. Her daughter would never be deprived of her father, as Sansa was now deprived of Ned Stark.

"What did you dream for me, mother?"

"I wished for you to be happily married…to a great lord. I thought, when King Robert proposed to betroth you to Joffrey, that we were doing what was right for you. We believed that you would be happy as his queen. And now, I know that…King's Landing became a nightmare for you." Sansa looked at her questioningly. "Arya told me what Joffrey did to you and…I saw the scars on your back last night." Sansa looked down in shame, hating that she would always bear the reminders of Joffrey on her body. "I had no idea you were being treated that way."

She nodded. "I know that, Mother."

"Don't ever think that Robb and I…that we didn't worry for you. Don't ever think that we didn't want you back. Robb loved you very much. I remember how excited he was when you were born. He was not yet five years old but…he insisted on holding you right away. And he sat on the bed beside me, holding you on his lap…and he promised to be a good big brother to you." Sansa felt her eyes fill with tears and looked at her mother, whose eyes were also wet.

"I miss him. I miss all of them," she whispered. "I wish father could meet her," she said, touching her baby's hand.

"Your father would be proud to see the lady you've grown into."

Sansa wiped at the tears that began to fall from her eyes and Catelyn shifted the babe and held out her free arm to Sansa who began to weep as she went into her mother's arms, crying against her as her mother rubbed her back and shoulder. The babe began to squeak as she saw Sansa's nearness. Sansa smiled gently and wiped away her tears before accepting the babe back from her mother. She cradled her in her arms, smiling at her little face.

"You're happy, aren't you?"

Sansa nodded. "Yes. I know you don't like it but…Jaime makes me very happy. And I'm…I'm happy that he's given me a new family, with him and our little girl." She looked at her mother. "He's also given me back what remains of my family…you and Arya. We wouldn't be here together, if it weren't for him." She looked down at the babe in her arms. "You see that he loves me. That he loves our baby. I know you see that."

Catelyn sighed, leaning back in her chair. "I suppose I do," she said quietly. "That doesn't mean that all is magically forgiven."

"I know that, mother, but…will you try to accept him as my husband? It would mean a lot to me if I could have both of you in my life."

"It doesn't look as if he intends to be separated from you," she said with a sigh as Sansa smiled to herself. "I don't…I don't wish to make things more difficult for you, Sansa. And I have missed you. I'm sorry that I wasn't available to you during your pregnancy." She smoothed her hand over Sansa's hair. "I would like you to feel that you can come to me as you're learning to be a mother."

"I would like that, too," Sansa whispered as her mother looked down at the babe in her arms.

"It seems just yesterday I held you in my arms and now…you're all grown up. With your own little girl in your arms." Sansa smiled, letting Julianna tightly grip her littlest finger. "He protected you? In King's Landing?"

Sansa nodded. "When Jaime came back to King's Landing he saw what Joffrey had done to me. He saw me…" Sansa hated how her voice cracked and took a deep breath. "Joffrey had stripped me naked and his guards were beating me. Jaime made them stop and…he covered me with his cloak and took me to my chamber. No one ever laid a hand on me again."

"And you love him."

Sansa looked at her mother and saw that she was staring down at her hands. It was a statement, not a question, but Sansa answered anyway. "I love him so much, mother. Not the stupid, childish way I believed I loved Joffrey. I really, truly love, Jaime."

Her mother slowly raised her eyes to Sansa's, stopping to look at the child in her arms for a moment. She simply nodded, running her hand over Sansa's hair. "He best take care of you then," she said quietly. "I'll leave you, now. I always enjoyed being alone with my babies. Perhaps we can visit again tomorrow?"

"I would like that," Sansa whispered. She kissed Sansa's forehead and gently patted the babe before slipping out of the nursery.

Sansa felt a calm overcome her as she looked down at her babe, who was nuzzling against her, looking to nurse. She unlaced her gown, leaning back in her seat as Julianna began to suckle. Perhaps everything will be all right now. Sansa raised her eyes heavenward, silently thanking the Gods for softening her mother's manner towards her and Jaime.

….

The calm will come to an end in the next chapter, as Cersei takes action to get Jaime back...And, of course, Cat is not going to forgive and forget all THAT easily...