Chapter 60

Jaime awoke in the morning, finding that Tommen had somehow found his way between he and Sansa in the bed – no doubt moving into her spot when she got up in the night to feed the babe. There's no denying that the boy feels safe with her, Jaime thought, noticing that Tommen couldn't possibly be sleeping closer to Sansa if he tried. He supposed it wasn't surprising that Tommen would attach himself to a mother figure, now that Cersei was dead. Now that I've killed her, he corrected. Jaime knew he was to blame for Tommen having no one but he and Sansa to care for him.

He heard Julianna cooing from her bassinette, and rose from the bed to get her. He smiled down at her sweet little face, and wondered why he felt so much stronger for her than for his son, who was lying in bed beside Sansa. Perhaps it is because Julianna has always been mine, and has always had my name. While I always knew Tommen was not mine. Jaime lifted his daughter into his arms, kissing her forehead and taking her back to the bed with him.

As he settled on the bed, holding Julianna, Jaime looked over at Sansa. She was fast asleep, with Tommen curled up beside her, holding her hand in both of his small ones. She looked completely at peace. He didn't understand how she could accept Tommen so easily and so completely into their family. Whenever he looked at the boy's features, he saw Cersei. After all the horrible things Cersei and Joffrey had done to Sansa, he didn't know how she could stand the sight of Tommen. Though, his little wife loved him, despite being a Lannister. Jaime knew his little wife well enough to know that, if he asked, Sansa would say that when she looked at Tommen, she saw him, not Joffrey or Cersei.

He couldn't help thinking of his sister and wondering what she would think, if she could see them like this, piled into the bed that he and Sansa shared, knowing that Sansa was now, in effect, Tommem's mother. He had little doubt that Cersei would see it as a betrayal that Jaime was allowing Sansa to raise Tommen, but Jaime knew it was best for the boy. And Sansa seemed so determined that he live with them. Tommen doesn't have anyone but us to be parents to him. Sansa will be a good mother to him, even if I don't know how to be his father. At least he'll have one suitable parent. Jaime had no doubt that Sansa would come to love him as her own child, given time. She was a natural mother. A natural nurturer?

Julianna was making her little cooing noises and patting his chest excitedly, demanding his attention and distracting him from his thoughts. "Try not to wake everyone, little lioness," he whispered to his daughter in a soothing tone, trying to calm her, though she was usually a happy little bundle of energy when she awoke in the morning.

Sitting and holding his baby made Jaime wonder about Myrcella. She was his daughter as well, though he never thought of her as such. The babe in his arms – the little creature that had a firm and unrelenting grip on his heart – was his true daughter. His only child. Though he couldn't help thinking of the others that he'd not been permitted to love or call his own.

Joffrey, who had turned out to be a monster. A living symbol of the ugliness and sin of his relationship with Cersei.

Myrcella, who looked so much like Cersei that he could not bear the thought of seeing her. He knew almost nothing about the girl that came from his seed, having hardly spoken to her over the course of her life.

And then there was Tomman, the little boy asleep in his bed, curled up alongside his wife. Though Jaime aknowledged that the boy resembled him, he was also a virtual stranger. He didn't know how he was to go about raising him and making him feel safe and loved. Every time he looked at the boy, he was reminded of Cersei and it was like a knife through his heart.

He tilted Julianna's little face up to his – and saw only her mother. She was the picture of his sweet Sansa. She giggled and squealed, smiling up at him, and Jaime held her closer, her warm little body so soft and comforting against his bare chest. He kissed her little cheek and cuddled her against him. I love this little girl so much. This is how I'm supposed to feel about my child. This is how it feels to be a father. He had never felt anything for the others that came close to the powerful love he had for Julianna. Jaime felt movement beside him and looked down to see Tommen watching him.

"Good morning, Uncle Jaime," he said quietly. Jaime noticed Sansa was still asleep, leaving him alone to entertain Tommen and Julianna. His children.

"Did you sleep all right?" Jaime whispered, so as not to wake his wife.

He nodded, still lying down, but reached over to touch Julianna's little foot, making her squeak with joy when she looked over and saw him.

Jaime slid further under the covers, lying on his side facing the boy, and placed the babe onto the mattress, on her back between he and Tommen. He smiled as she turned her little head back and forth, looking between the two of them.

"No more bad dreams?" Tommen shook his head, not looking at Jaime, instead focusing on the babe lying beside him. Jaime rested his head on the pillow, uncertain how to speak to the boy. He was far more open and affectionate than Jaime was, but he was also shy, and Jaime wasn't at all close to him. Cersei had never allowed him to show any interest in Tommen or the others.

"Mother always used to call the Rock her true home," Tommen said quietly, and Jaime turned his head, watching the boy as he spoke, seeing that he still only looked at Julianna.

"Casterly Rock is to be your home now, as well."

"And Sansa is going to take care of me?"

"We both will take care of you. You like Sansa, don't you?"

The boy smiled and nodded. "She's always nice to me. You like her too, don't you?" he asked, his green eyes meeting Jaime's.

Jaime chuckled, resting his hand on the babe lying between them – proof of just how much he liked Sansa. Not to mention what Tommen had interrupted the night before. "Yes, I do. I love her very much."

"Is that why she sleeps here in your bed and not in her chambers?"

"Yes. I like having her here with me."

"Mother never let Margaery sleep in my chambers as Sansa sleeps in yours," Tommen said and Jaime had to fight the urge to laugh at the ridiculousness of the child's entire marriage to Margaery Tyrell.

"That is…something for when you're older," Jaime said, hoping to leave it at that.

"Like what you and Sansa were doing last night?" he asked, rather innocently, though Jaime was glad Sansa was asleep, or she might have had a heart attack at the horror of Tommen's questions about seeing them having sex.

"Yes, like that. That's what…married people do when they're old enough." Jaime would be forever grateful to Julianna for distracting Tommen from the topic. The babe gingerly rolled on her side, facing Tommen, and grabbed his nightshirt, holding it tightly in her little fists. Jaime didn't have to see her face to know there was a huge smile on it. He watched as Tommen carefully held her, hugging the babe to him as she squealed in delight. Tommen looked over at him, and he felt terrible seeing the apprehensive expression on the boy's face, as if he were going to be scolded for holding the baby. Jaime thought he must still believe what Cersei told him – that he only cared about Sansa and Julianna. "You can play with her, and hold her. It's all right."

Tommen smiled, stroking the baby's hair. Jaime could see that he was touching her carefully and gently. He knew the boy would not harm her. He will not harm...his baby sister. Jaime looked past his children and saw that the babe's happy squeals had woken Sansa, her sleepy eyes on him as she lay still beside his son.

"Sansa said Julianna's my family. She said the four of us are a family."

He forced himself to look away from Sansa's eyes and down at the boy – at his son – who continued quietly chatting with him. "She's right, Tommen. We are a family."

He felt Sansa take his hand, reaching across the children. He met her eyes and could see she was pleased with his words to Tommen. She leaned over Tommen and kissed the boy's cheek, whispering good morning, before doing the same to the babe.

"What about me?" Jaime asked, smirking at her.

She blushed and glanced at Tommen, though Jaime reached for her before she could react and kissed her full on the mouth. She was blushing even more when he released her lips and Jaime moved his mouth to her ear. "He saw us fucking last night. Witnessing a kiss won't traumatize the boy."

"Jaime!" He laughed as she clearly fought the urge to smack him. He knew he should stop scandalizing her, but he enjoyed teasing his little wife. He'd never been able to be playful with Cersei, but Sansa seemed to know that his teasing was meant to show her affection. Scowling, Sansa settled back beside Tommen, softly tousling his hair and watching as he held Julianna. "Are you feeling better about being here at Casterly Rock?" she asked quietly.

He turned his head to look at her, nodding. "Thank you for letting me sleep here with you. Mother never would. She said I could not act like a baby and that I had to sleep alone in my chamber, because that is what a king should do."

"Everyone needs a bit of comfort sometimes. There's nothing wrong with that," she said, sitting up and leaning against the headboard as Jaime did the same, Tommen and the babe still lying on the bed between them. Jaime looked her over and marveled at how beautiful his little wife was, wearing nothing but his rumpled tunic. He had to admit, it felt right to be here this morning with Sansa and their babe, and little Tommen, all of them piled into their bed. Though, he couldn't help feeling a bit guilty for it. He wondered if he was betraying Cersei by allowing such an intimate, family relationship to develop between Sansa and Tommen. Is it wrong to let her mother him?

Sansa looked up from the children and met Jaime's eyes, a soft smile on her face. "They're so sweet together," she whispered. She's happy. I've given her a family. He knew that she wanted a family - a pack - more than anything. At least he got that right. Tommen was smiling at the baby, looking her in the eyes – eyes that matched his own – as she reached out and touched his face.

"I noticed that someone found their way between us in the night," he said quietly, a smirk on his face. "I may begin to feel jealous if this goes on much longer."

"Oh, stop it," she said, reaching down and gently stroking Tommen's hair.

"Not that I blame him for wanting to be close to you," he whispered, looking down at the children again.

The babe began whining and Sansa picked her up, softly saying her name and cradling her in her arms. She began nosing against Sansa's breasts and Jaime saw his wife glance nervously at Tommen – no doubt debating the propriety of allowing the child to see her breasts.

"He's saw it all last night," Jaime said with a smirk, resting his head against the headboard as Tommen looked at him, not understanding. Sansa sighed and removed the tunic she wore and helped guide the babe to one of her nipples. Tommen turned his head as the babe's suckling noises and happy purrs filled the room, watching curiously as she nursed at Sansa's breast.

"That's how baby kittens get milk from their mothers."

Jaime snorted back a laugh at Sansa's expression. "She is like a little kitten, isn't she?" Sansa said with a smile, shooting Jaime a look of warning. "Don't you think she sounds like a purring kitten?"

Tommen was quiet, listening to the sounds Julianna made before nodding happily. Sansa reached out with her free hand and smoothed back Tommen's hair, smiling as he settled back onto the bed, curling up and resting his head against her leg. Jaime got out of bed, walking toward the bathing room, though he stopped for a moment watching Sansa absently rub Tommen's back as she nursed Julianna. Perhaps Tommen will finally have a mother that puts him first – a mother who just loves him.

He didn't think that would make up for not having a proper father.

….

Sansa had told Arya who their visitors were the day before – and that Tommen would be staying with them at the Rock - but the children had not seen one another yet, as Tommen had been off with Lady Alys getting settled and Arya had spent the morning practicing with Jaime. But she could see that her little sister was none too pleased at the new addition to their table when she sat down to break her fast.

Sansa ignored Arya's glare. "You two remember each other, don't you?"

"Yes," she said sullenly as Tommen shyly took a seat beside Sansa. The boy was openly curious about Arya. Sansa watched him take in her short hair and breeches and the sword at her belt. She certainly didn't look like any highborn girl he would have encountered in King's landing. Arya's appearance still annoyed Sansa, though her hair had begun to grow out the past few months and now she would put it up in a tiny ponytail when she and Jaime practiced.

The meal was quiet, with the exception of Arya and Jaime talking about various sword-fighting maneuvers and the progress of the dragon glass weapons that Gendry was making. Sansa saw that Tommen was listening with interest, though he was far too shy to join in their conversation. She remembered how Tommen had wanted Loras Tyrell to teach him to joust with his little pony that he'd received for his nameday.

"Did you ever wish to be a knight?" she whispered to Tommen beside her. He smiled and nodded at Sansa. "Perhaps you could watch Arya and Jaime practice some morning." She leaned over and whispered in his ear. "And maybe Jaime could even teach you to fight with a sword."

He smiled shyly, taking a drink of his water. "Mother always said I was too little and clumsy. And that it was too dangerous."

"I think it will be all right, as long as you're not using live steel." Sansa thought perhaps Jaime and Tommen could get to know one another as they crossed swords. It had certainly helped Jaime and Arya overcome their differences and become good friends. Before she could suggest it, Tommen made a different request of her.

"May I see where mother is buried?" Tommen asked and Sansa looked at Jaime, who she could see had heard Tommen's request and seemed stricken. "I want to put flowers on her grave."

She knew from Lady Alys that Jaime had ordered Cersei interred in the crypts almost immediately after her body was discovered, and as far she could tell, Jaime had never visited her grave. She could imagine how difficult it would be for him – since she had tried to kill she and Julianna, and forced Jaime to kill her in order to protect them. Even now, after some time had passed, she could still see a shadow pass over his face, and knew he was thinking about his sister. She'd seen it a few times since Tommen's arrival, when Jaime would study the boy's face.

"There aren't any flowers now that its winter, Tommen, but I can take you to the crypts," Sansa said quietly.

"No, Sansa. I'll take him." She silently asked him if he was certain, and Jaime nodded. She hoped he wasn't offering this as another way to punish himself. He must know he's going to expose himself to Tommen's grief over Cersei's death.

"But we're supposed to practice," Arya protested loudly.

"It's dark now, Arya, and it'll be dark for days. I don't expect it matters what time of day we practice, so long as we have torches. I'll come find you a bit later, all right?"

"Fine."

"I promise." Jaime rose from his seat and ruffled her hair. She pretended to be affronted, but Sansa could see she enjoyed his attention. "Come along, Tommen."

Sansa smiled to herself as Tommen ran to catch up with Jaime, his little legs moving quickly to keep up with Jaime's long stride. She could see that Jaime did not expect it when the boy took his hand as he ran along beside him. He is such a sweet boy, Sansa thought, watching as father and son walked away together.

"Why is he here?" Arya demanded angrily once Jaime was out of earshot.

"There's no one else to take care of him. He's not safe in the capitol with Lord Tyrell and all the others who only wish for power and don't care if a little boy lives or dies."

"Who cares if he's safe after what they did to us? The king is our enemy."

"I've told you not to call him King. And he's not Joffrey. He could never be so horrible as him. Why do you suddenly act as if you hate all Lannisters? Jaime's a Lannister."

"Why are you protecting the queen's son? She tried to kill you and Julianna."

Sansa took a deep breath, not sure how to explain things to Arya. "She did. But Tommen had nothing to do with that. He's just a little boy. A very lonely little boy who has lost most of his family. Just as you and I have. Jaime is the only family he has left." Sansa had her suspicions about the reasons for her sister's hostility toward Tommen. "Jaime will still spend as much time with you as he did before," she said casually, sipping her tea.

"I don't care about that," Arya said unconvincingly.

"You know, it won't kill you to admit that you like Jaime. I see that you do." Arya looked down stubbornly at her food. "You're not betraying Robb, or Bran or Rickon, just because Jaime has come to be a brother to you," Sansa said quietly, seeing that Arya's eyes became teary. "They wouldn't want you to be lonely. They would be glad that you have someone to talk to and who will protect you and make sure that you're safe."

"I know," she said in a small voice.

"Jaime will still practice with you every day and teach you – just as he did before. You needn't feel jealous."

"I'm not jealous! Jaime doesn't even like him. He can't do anything I can."

"You mustn't say that Jaime doesn't like him. That's not true."

"Seems that way to me."

"They just don't know each other very well."

Arya looked at her as if that were the stupidest thing Sansa had ever said. "They've known each other for his whole life. Jaime lived in King's Landing."

"That's true, but…the Lannisters are different than our family. Jaime didn't spend time with the Queen's children."

Arya glared at her. "I'm not stupid. I know he's Jaime's son."

"You mustn't ever say that aloud," Sansa hissed, looking to be sure they were alone. "Jaime could be executed for treason if anyone found out." It seemed Arya had not considered that possibility, as she seemed stricken by Sansa's words. "Tommen is going to live here with us, so you should get used to him. You might like him."

Arya glared at her older sister. "He's a baby. I don't like him."

"Don't like who?" Lady Catelyn asked, taking a seat beside Arya. Her mother never joined them in the morning while Jaime was dining with them, but she would sometimes sit with Sansa and Julianna while Sansa finished her tea.

Sansa adjusted Julianna on her lap. "Tommen…Margaery Tyrell fled the capitol and brought him here. To live."

"He's to stay here?" Sansa could tell from her mother's tone that she disapproved. Arya scurried out of the dining room and Sansa could have throttled her for bringing this topic up in front of thier mother and then running off.

"There's nowhere else for him to go," Sansa said quietly. "No one else to take care of him."

"He expects you to raise his bastard then? A bastard he fathered on his own sister?" Sansa looked at her mother and saw such anger. She supposed she understood why.

"It's not the same as with Jon," she whispered, rubbing her hand over Julianna's back as the babe turned to snuggle against her. "Jaime…he's never broken any vows he made to me. Tommen was born long before I even met him." She saw that her words had hurt her mother and immediately regretted them. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Mother. I didn't mean to upset you."

"You're not wrong, Sansa. Your father did break his vows to me. And I was forced to look at another woman's child for all of my marriage. A child that was a living breathing reminder that my husband betrayed me. I was forced to have another woman's child in my home and at my table, who looked more like my husband than all of my own, save Arya. As will you, now."

Sansa couldn't deny that Tommen favored Jaime far more than Julianna did, but it didn't bother her. She didn't question Jaime's love for her daughter. "Father…he loved all of us, whether we looked like him or not."

"I know that he did. Your father loved you very much. You were his perfect little girl." She watched her mother smile at the memory before returning to the present conversation. "After all he's put you through – all his family has put you through – I can't believe he would ask this of you."

"He didn't. He was talking of where Tommen could be sent. I insisted that he stay with us. He's just a scared little boy – he's nothing like his mother – and he belongs with us. Jaime and I are…we're his parents." She looked down at the babe in her arms. "Julianna is his sister. I want them to love one another, as they should."

"I hope you know what you're getting into, my love," her mother said, taking the babe from her arms and fussing over her. "Don't fool yourself into thinking it will be easy raising Cersei Lannister's son."

"It's the right thing to do. It's the honorable thing to do. And I am so very fond of little Tommen. He is such a good boy, mother. You will be kind to him, won't you? He's nothing like her or Joffrey, I promise. He's so shy and scared. It would help him if everyone here were to welcome him."

Her mother studied her for a moment before sighing deeply. "You love him far too much for your own good," she murmured quietly.

"Tommen?"

"No, my love, Jaime Lannister. He's very fortunate that you are so unconditional in your love, Sansa."

"Isn't that how marriage is supposed to be, Mother?" Lady Catelyn's expression softened when she saw the earnest expression on her daughter's face. "It's what I learned growing up. Watching you and father. I always knew how much the two of you loved each other, and I knew nothing would ever change that."

Sansa smiled as her mother leaned over and kissed her temple. "I don't know why I worried that your time in the capitol would have affected your sweetness. Tommen is very fortunate that you are Jaime's wife."

…

Next chapter: More Jaime/Tommen bonding time and News from the Northern Battlefield

As always, thank you so much for all of the reviews and interest in the coming chapters. It's definitely a challenge to try to bring everything together and slowly integrate the other characters and what's going on around Westeros with the war. I absolutely read and consider all of your comments and suggestions about things you wish to see in the story. Thank you!