I made Myrcella older than in the books, so that I could maintain the three year age difference between the two of them. And, it will be obvious that Myrcella's storyline from the books is different than in this story.

…

Chapter 88

Sansa looked at Jaime nervously as the smaller ship with the orange sails neared theirs. She recognized the sigil of House Martell emblazoned on the sails. She couldn't help feeling a small tremor of fear. Another enemy. Jaime had told her plenty of times that the Martells hated him because of what his father's men had done to Princess Elia during the Sack of King's Landing. That was Lord Tywin's brutality, not Jaime's. The Prince must know that. Anyone who knows anything of Lord Tywin would know it was his order. Tommen stood in front of them, resting his hands on the railings and watching the approaching ship while Sansa held Julianna in her arms. The happy babe was pointing at the ship and smiling merrily.

"Boat?" she asked, looking at Jaime for confirmation, though he didn't notice in his distraction. He seemed to be preparing himself for a confrontation and Sansa prayed they would not have to fight a battle while at sea.

"Yes, sweetling," Sansa answered, kissing her daughter's cheek. "That's a boat."

"Pia, help Lady Sansa and the children below deck."

Sansa looked at Jaime sharply. He's lost his senses if he thinks I'm going to sit below and worry, not knowing what is happening up here. She took Tommen's hand and walked him over to where Pia stood. Sansa handed Julianna over to her handmaiden and told Tommen to go with them to wait below deck.

"Can't I stay up here with you and Uncle Jaime?" he asked, looking up at her and tugging at her hand. "I want to see Cella."

"I know, sweetling. But we don't even know for certain that is Myrcella on the ship. If it is, you'll see her. I promise. But right now, please do as we ask." He nodded solemnly and followed Pia down below, stopping at the top of the steps and straining to see the boat again before continuing down to their room.

Once the children were gone, Sansa stood slightly behind Jaime, looking out at the approaching ship again and felt her heart skip a beat. It is Myrcella. She knew it in her heart, though she had hoped that they were wrong. It was a silly thought. Myrcella was probably the only blonde head in all of Dorne. Sansa glanced at Jaime again, wondering what he was thinking as his daughter approached them. A daughter he had never claimed. I wonder if she knows that Jaime is her father.

Tommen had been younger and sheltered from all of the "rumors" of incest by Cersei. But Myrcella had been old enough to understand Stannis Baratheon's missives and to hear the gossip swirling around King's Landing. And in Dorne, she may not have been protected at all from Stannis Baratheon's campaign to take the iron throne from the Lannisters.

Sansa felt differently about Jaime being reunited with Myrcella than she had with Tommen, and she didn't understand why. She had not felt a moment's hesitation at welcoming the little boy into their family. The little boy that she now considered to be hers. Perhaps because he reminds me of a smaller Jaime. But she felt something akin to fear at the prospect of Myrcella being theirs to raise as well. She used to look so much like Cersei. What if she has developed Cersei's cruelty?

"Why aren't you below deck with the children as I asked?"

Sansa looked up to see Jaime approaching her, his displeasure evident. "I'm not a child, Jaime. And I won't hide away like a child."

"Sansa, you know that the Martells will support any Targaryen over a Lannister. Doran Martell may very well intend to return us to Westeros as prisoners of the crown. I can't worry about your safety – or that of our children - when I speak with the Prince. Have you forgotten what the Unsullied did to Julianna to gain the upper hand?"

"Of course I haven't forgotten. But I'm your lady wife and I should be by your side when you speak with the Prince," she said stubbornly.

"Seven Hells, Sansa. You're not welcoming him to afternoon tea at Casterly Rock. He'll forgive you for not properly receiving him. You - and the child you're carrying - are safer below deck."

"I'm not leaving." She could see that he was considering throwing her over his shoulder and carrying her down below and she felt a small tremor of fear as she steadied herself, preparing to resist if he did anything of the sort, no matter how unladylike she was forced to be. She'd like to think he wouldn't disgrace her in front of his men in such a manner, but she knew better. Jaime has no sense of propriety.

"You honestly want to see Myrcella?" he asked quietly. "Do you want to see Cersei's face again? To remember all of the cruelty she inflicted on you? Because I promise you, that's what you'll see when you look at Myrcella."

"And what will you see when you look at her?" I know what he'll see. He'll see the sister he loved for most of his life. He'll see the woman he killed. "I expect it will be more difficult for you than for me and I won't allow you to send me away." He seemed surprised by her words. She had never been so defiant with him, but Sansa firmly believed that she belonged by his side. Sansa rested her hands on his chest. "Please let me stay with you, Jaime," she whispered, tilting her head up at him.

Jaime stared at her for a long time before he wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly and pressing his forehead against hers. Sansa relaxed, assured that he was prepared to give in to her wishes. She knew full well how difficult it would be for him to see Myrcella and she was determined to be with him. And, if she was entirely honest, she wanted to see Myrcella for herself. She wanted to see if she saw the good in her that was in Jaime and Tommen, or if she only saw Cersei's poison. She's Jaime's daughter. She's part of him. Sansa kept telling herself that.

Jaime's men lined up at the railing of the ship – protecting their lord and lady - with crossbows at the ready. Sansa saw the Prince's eyes narrow as he took in the show of force, and he shook his head in annoyance. His men had not drawn their weapons, which gave Sansa hope that this meeting would be peaceful. The Prince leaned against the railing of his own ship, a cane in his free hand, and Sansa saw the resemblance to his brother, Oberyn Martell. Prince Doran was older and seemed weary. He's out-lived all of his siblings. Sansa had an idea how the Prince must feel. To be the only one left. She thought of what happened to Princess Elia and Prince Oberyn at the hands of the Mountain, and could not help feeling sorry for Prince Doran.

Her eyes moved to the girl at his side and she nearly gasped. Sansa did the math in her head and knew that Myrcella was five and ten years old now. And she looked so much like her mother, it was as if Cersei Lannister had come back from the dead. She clenched her hands together to stop them from shaking. Jaime was riveted to the sight of her and Myrcella returned his intense stare, though her gaze was not a particularly friendly one.

"Ser Jaime. I wonder what brings you so far from Casterly Rock," the Prince called out.

"The weather this far South seemed more appropriate to a pleasure cruise than the Bay outside Lannisport. Winter and all." Sansa sighed at his insolence and looked between the Prince and Jaime. She wondered if it was possible that the Dornish Prince didn't know that the Queen had ordered Jaime's death. "It seemed you knew who it was you were meeting. I doubt you sail out to meet all who pass through Dornish waters."

She watched the Prince restrain his temper, knowing Jaime had him outmanned. Perhaps that is a sign that he does not mean to harm us. If he did…he'd have brought more soldiers with him. "May my young ward and I come aboard?" he asked, gesturing to Myrcella beside him. "It is rather uncivilized for us to shout across the bows of our ships at one another."

"It's preferable to shooting arrows at one another," Jaime said dryly. Sansa bumped him with her foot, wishing he would not be so provocative. "The Prince of Dorne and Princess Myrcella may come aboard," Jaime stated to both his own men and the Dornish, making it clear that the Dornish soldiers would not be permitted to board their ship. Sansa tried to subtly look at Myrcella as Gendry and one of Jaime's soldiers helped her on board. She still looked very young. And in her eyes, Sansa saw the kindness and goodness that she remembered, though Sansa had been taken in before by appearances of goodness and kindness. She recalled that she believed Cersei to be a good person until she'd ordered Lady killed.

"Do you mind if we sit?" the Prince asked, gesturing to some carved wooden chairs that Sansa had ordered carried up onto the deck once the weather had improved and she and Julianna were spending more time out of doors. Jaime nodded, gesturing for Prince Doran to lead the way. She saw that he walked with a bit of a limp, leaning heavily on the cane in his hand. Once they were all seated, Sansa was introduced to the Prince, though he did not seem to care much for pleasantries. Before she could say anything to Myrcella, the Prince began speaking.

"Word did reach us here in Dorne that you had fled Westeros once Queen Daenerys took the throne and decided to put you to death. The Lord of Starfall sent a scout out when you crossed into Dornish waters. They sent word to us at Sunspear." He glanced up at their ship. "Your sails do not bear a sigil but…no one but a Lannister could afford such a vessel in these times of war. You may not know it but, Queen Daenerys has put a price on your head. A lordship for anyone who brings you to her. Dead or alive."

Sansa looked at Jaime in alarm, but he did not seem at all surprised at such a turn of events. Does this mean we'll always have to look over our shoulders? Sansa realized they would have to be heavily guarded for the rest of their lives. She pushed those thoughts aside for the moment, as the Prince continued.

"I don't know how you managed to escape Daenerys but…she is furious. She requested the return of my ward to King's Landing. I can only imagine what plans she has for the Princess," he drawled slowly, turning to look at Myrcella. "Though, she'd likely have my tongue cut out for referring to her by such a title."

Would he actually turn her over to the Dragon Queen? She could see that Jaime feared he would send Myrcella back to King's Landing – to take his punishment for him.

"I will not be accommodating her. My son is…quite fond of his betrothed." She saw Myrcella blush and look down. "My daughter, Arianne, had suggested challenging Daenerys for the Iron Throne. Under Dornish law, Myrcella should have inherited before her younger brother. However, there is the matter of her true paternity."

Sansa felt Jaime tense beside her at his words and she saw the emotion in Myrcella's eyes, though she quickly turned her face away from both she and Jaime. She already knows Jaime is her father, then. She should have guessed that. The girl had not greeted Jaime at all, merely silently followed the Prince who had taken her in. Though, why is he here with us now? He must plan to abandon Myrcella here with us on this ship. To put her in her father's custody.

Prince Doran," Sansa began, desperate to know his intentions for certain. "What is it you want of us? I don't believe a man of your stature would wish for a lordship in Westeros to be bestowed upon him. So…there'd be no reason for you to harm us."

"No, my lady. I don't intend to become involved in Westeros politics. I want to hear from the Kingslayer about the death of my brother. He already written of the slaughter of my sister and her children on your father's orders before being killed himself by the same Lannister bannerman."

"It was his need for vengeance that killed your brother," Jaime murmured. "He had very nearly bested the Mountain. But his insistence on hearing the man admit what he'd done to Elia…it was his undoing. "

"Why didn't you protect her?"

"I didn't know what my father had intended. If I had…I would have tried to stop them. Even if they were my father's own men."

The prince nodded, rising to his feet, knowing nothing Jaime could say would comfort him. He rested a hand on Myrcella's shoulder. "We'll leave when you're ready," he said to her quietly, before returning to his ship. Jaime and Sansa looked at one another in confusion. Is he leaving her here or not?

"May I see Tommen?" Myrcella asked, her soft voice cutting through the tension as Jaime and Sansa tried to determine what the Prince was after. "Before I return to Sunspear? That was him standing beside you, wasn't it?" Sansa looked at Jaime, her eyebrow raised in question. He nodded and Sansa sent a guard to bring him back onto the deck of the ship.

"It's true, isn't it?"

Sansa knew what Myrcella was asking - for confirmation that Jaime was her father. She could see that Myrcella desperately wanted to believe that the rumors of incest were just that. But when he didn't deny it – didn't utter a word - she seemed to know that the answer was yes, and wiped the tears that began to form in her eyes.

"Myrcella-" Sansa began, but the girl shook her head, turning her attention to her brother as he came bounding up onto the deck and threw himself into her arms, smiling happily. Pia was trailing behind him and looked at Sansa apologetically. "The babe so wanted to go with him."

"It's all right," Sansa said, taking Julianna from her. She held her daughter on her lap as Tommen and Myrcella spoke to one another about what had happened to them since she left for Dorne. As he told her about the adventures they'd had, and how he wasn't King anymore, Jaime rose to his feet and walked to the edge of the railing.

Sansa wondered if he simply couldn't bear the sight of her – as much as she looked like Cersei. She followed him, not certain what she could say or do to offer comfort. So, she simply leaned against him, watching as the babe grabbed at his tunic. Jaime smiled sadly at Julianna, rubbing her little cheek with his thumb. Sansa glanced back and Tommen and Myrcella and saw that she was watching them, as Tommen happily chatted away at her. She wondered what the girl thought, seeing them together. Myrcella had curiously studied Julianna from the moment she was placed in Sansa's lap. She knows that the babe is her sister.

Myrcella began to walk towards them, gesturing for Tommen to wait where he was, and came straight up to Jaime, her eyes as piercing as Cersei's. Though not nearly as cold.

"I always wondered why you were not closer to me. To us. Uncle Tyrion would play with us, but you never did. It seemed so strange to me, since you were so close to…Mother. You always seemed…unhappy and I thought it was because you could never marry or have a family of your own but…you had one. You had children that you didn't want to know." Myrcella's eyes were filled with tears and Sansa could see that Jaime was struggling not to cry himself. "When I heard the truth…I wondered why you never wanted to know me. Why you never wanted to know your own daughter. I wanted to know you. Even when I thought you were only my uncle." She wiped her eyes, looking at Julianna. "Now you have a daughter. One you know and love and who will call you father."

"You –" Jaime cleared his throat. "I never meant to hurt you. Any of you."

Sansa knew he wanted to say more, but wasn't able to, so she gently squeezed his hand. "What will you do now, Myrcella?"

She smiled sadly. "I can never go home. Even if I wished to. I'd be sentenced to death for…my parents' sins and called an abomination. In Dorne, being a bastard is not as much of a stigma, as it is in the rest of Westeros. They don't care who my parents were. Prince Oberyn had many bastards and they are treated as family. Though…his own sister did not bear any of them."

Sansa saw Jaime flinch as Myrcella called herself a bastard. Though she could not help but feel relief that the girl did not plan to go with them. "Trystane Martell still wishes for us to marry. This is a better life than I would have otherwise. Who would want me? A bastard girl born of…unspeakable acts. If I were to return home…I'd be treated as nothing but a whore."

Jaime looked away in shame and Sansa suddenly wanted the girl gone. She has every reason to be upset and to lash out, but I can't allow her to hurt Jaime like this. She needs to go. As she thought of the girl returning to Dorne, Sansa realized that she couldn't let her go in good conscience, unless she knew the girl would not be harmed. She may look like Cersei and she may be causing Jaime pain, but she's still a young girl.

"Myrcella," Sansa began, lowering her voice so she could speak privately to her. "You're certain that you wish to stay in Dorne. Are you safe with them?" Sansa knew about being a hostage. She knew what it was like to be trapped with people who hurt and tormented her, all while she had been unable to speak up. "They aren't…treating you as I was treated? When I was betrothed to Joffrey?"

She shook her head. "I may have been given to them, as if I were a horse or a sword, instead of a person, but…they have never harmed me. Or deceived me as my own family has. I only wished to see Tommen one last time."

Sansa looked at the girl's face, and the way she looked at Jaime, and could see that Myrcella had wanted to see him as well. She acts indifferent and angry but her eyes keep traveling to Jaime, searching his face as if she is looking for something. She knew that Myrcella had wanted to look at him once, knowing he was her father.

"How did Mother die?" she asked, looking down at her hands.

"An…assassin-" Jaime began, but then changed course. "Cersei…never knew when to stop. She was determined and relentless when she wanted something and it got her killed."

"Who killed her?" Myrcella asked, though from her tone of voice, she seemed to suspect Jaime. "Nevermind. You won't tell me the truth anyway. You and Mother…have lied to me my whole life. From the moment I was born. It was foolish of me to expect the truth now."

Sansa saw how much Myrcella's words hurt him, though there was some truth there. She turned to walk away from them and then turned back suddenly. "Sansa, you'll – you'll be kind to Tommen? Despite the horrible things Mother and Joff did to you? Tommen deserves…a mother. He says you have treated him well. That he is happy and loves…both of you. And that he loves…" She trailed off, looking at Julianna. He told her he loves Julianna.

Sansa nodded. "We will both take good care of your brother," she replied, wanting her to know that Jaime was learning to be a father to Tommen. He would try to be a father to her as well, given the chance. Though I don't know that he would be successful. "Tommen will be loved. You never need worry for him."

Myrcella looked at Jaime once more. "You should tell Tommen the truth. Before he's old enough to realize how awful it all is. Before he understands on his own. And knows how many died because of what you and Mother did." With those words, she walked away from Jaime and returned to Tommen. He turned away from her, leaning against the railing and wiped his eyes.

"Dada?" Julianna said, looking up at Jaime.

"He's all right," Sansa whispered, kissing the top of Julianna's head. Sansa reached up and cupped his cheek. Jaime closed his eyes and leaned into her touch. She watched Myrcella speak with Tommen, and knew the moment she told him goodbye, because the little boy began to cry. She embraced him tightly for a long time, murmuring softly in his ear before taking Gendry's hand to step back onto Prince Doran's boat.

"She's leaving," Sansa whispered, going to Tommen so she could comfort him.

"Myrcella?" Jaime called out. She stopped and looked at him, the pain evident in both their eyes. "I'm sorry. For all of my mistakes. I'm sorry for hurting you."

She didn't say anything in response. She merely continued onto the Dornish vessel, leaving her past – her family – behind.

As the ship sailed away from them, Tommen stood at the rail crying. Sansa had put Julianna on her feet, and she toddled over to Tommen, a stricken expression on her face as she reached for him. "No cry."

Sansa knelt between them, hugging Tommen. "He's sad to say goodbye to his sister," she explained, knowing Julianna didn't understand. She kissed Tommen's temple, hugging him. "You still have Julianna to be with you. And me and Jaime." She glanced up at Jaime and saw him looking out at the ship sailing away from them, a haunted expression on his face.

"What did we do?" he murmured, so low she could barely hear him.

…

Thanks for reading and thank you so much to all of you who take the time to review. I had toyed with Myrcella joining them on their journey, but Jaime and Sansa already have a lot to deal with. And he hasn't even told Tommen that he's his father.

Next chapter: Jaime and Sansa talk about Myrcella and we'll check in with someone in Westeros (haven't decided who, yet)