Finally!

Chapter 116

…

Arya stared out the window overlooking the Blackwater Bay as she silently drank her tea and nibbled at her bread. She listened as Jon told Bran all about the feast the night before. Her memories of the feast were quite different from Jon's. He spoke of the Queen's declaration that those who fought the White Walkers were now Protectors of the Realm. He spoke of the drink and the food and the music. As Arya thought back to the previous night, her memories kept drifting to the friend she had not seen in so many years.

Gendry had been more boy than man when he left Casterly Rock with Jaime and Sansa. Now that several years had passed, there was no question that he was a man grown. He was taller and stronger and more handsome that she had remembered. Arya had known that he would return to Westeros with Jaime and Sansa, but she had not expected the flutter in her stomach when she saw him join Jaime before the Iron Throne. She'd thought of Gendry over the years. He had been one of the few people that she could rely upon when she thought she was was all alone in the world. He had become family to her, after she had lost all so many people that she loved.

It had hurt her to realize that Gendry had fled Casterly Rock for the Free Cities with Jaime and Sansa without saying goodbye, but she had understood. They were all fleeing for their lives and there had been no time for goodbyes. Sansa had mentioned Gendry occasionally in her letters, though it was usually about something he was doing to entertain her children.

During the past few years, there had been many visitors at Winterfell. All the lords and ladies of the North had come to bend the knee to Rickon, the little Lord of Winterfell. And with them they had brought their sons, each and every one of them making a spectacle out of introducing the heirs of the North to Arya. She knew what they wanted. They wanted to ally with House Stark through marriage. That was something Arya had always thought was meant for her sister. Sansa was the oldest daughter. She was the beauty, with the perfect manners who would make a desirable bride. To know that Arya was now the one that they all wanted – that she was the one expected to marry for the sake of the family – unsettled her. She'd avoided them at first. Then, when she was required to attend feasts, Arya had tried to scare them off with her dirty clothes and swordplay. That was, until her mother had stepped in and insisted she act as a lady in the presence of visitors.

Jaime had teased her about Gendry many times while they were all living at Casterly Rock, but he'd been absolutely merciless the night before at the feast. Arya still didn't understand why she had been too embarrassed to respond to Jaime as she would have liked - to wipe that smug smile off his face. It was times like that she really hated her sister's husband. Arya had struggled to conceal her discomfort as she sat across from Gendry at dinner, but she'd scarce been able to meet his eyes as he spoke of Lys and all that he had seen while living there with Jaime and Sansa. Why did I feel such nervousness in his presence? After all the time we spent traveling together from King's Landing? She had been confused and angry at herself for behaving like a simpering maiden.

When the music began to play, Jaime had left the table to dance with Julianna, and Gendry had inclined his head, motioning for her to follow him out of the throne room. Arya had only hesitated for a moment, shooting a glance at Sansa, who was focused on Jaime and Julianna, before following Gendry.

"We have to hurry," he whispered, walking swiftly for the doors. "It wouldn't be proper for anyone to see us leaving the feast together."

Arya huffed, not caring what anyone thought of her. She'd had half a mind to make Gendry speak to her where all could see, but the thought of Jaime happening on them had quickly pushed that thought from her mind, and she all but ran from the room.

When they were finally alone, in the Queen's small council chamber, Gendry had smiled his first real smile at her. "You seemed uncomfortable speaking to me in front of Lord Lannister." Arya didn't answer, horrified that he had noticed her embarrassment. "You've grown up, my lady."

She rolled her eyes at his formality. "You're older too. I didn't think I'd ever see you again, when we escaped the Rock and Ser Addam said you went to the Free Cities with Jaime and Sansa."

"You could have written me," he suggested. "When you wrote Lady Sansa."

Arya suddenly became preoccupied with the etchings hanging on the walls of the room, illustrating the conquest of Westeros by the Targaryens. "Sansa wrote of you, you know. About how you helped Jaime teach Tommen to use a sword and…how Julianna makes you play knights and ladies with her."

The sound of him chuckling behind her made her feel warm. "That niece of yours is a stubborn little thing. She takes after you in that way. Though, she's far more ladylike." Arya scowled, though she knew it was true. She would never be like Sansa and Julianna. "They're all good children, though," Gendry continued.

"Sansa says her children love you very much. That you're family to them."

She nearly jumped as he stood beside her. "Lord Lannister, Lady Sansa and the children…they're family to me as well. I've never been part of a family before. Never…I never knew how it was supposed to be…what it's like to grow up with parents that love each other. Like you and Lady Sansa did."

Arya smiled. "I'm glad – glad that you aren't alone anymore. And-" Arya moved away from him, standing on the other side of the table. "My mother said that I could visit with Sansa at Casterly Rock – if it's all right with her and with Jaime."

Gendry smiled faintly. "So I'll get to see more of you?"

Arya nodded. "If you wish to."

"I wish to," he said quietly. "I should return you to the throne room before you're missed."

Gendry had escorted her back to the feast, and he'd disappeared into the crowd. Not that it surprised her. He was still quiet and shy with strangers. A feast was not somewhere he would feel comfortable. The thought that he would dance with her was silly, though she could not help feeling a twinge of disappointment.

Sansa had caught her eye and Arya knew from her expression that her sister had noticed her absence, though she had not mentioned it as the night progressed. Instead, Arya had danced with Jon and with Jaime, as all the lords and ladies of the Realm celebrated the end of the war.

"I believe that the Queen's words will help to unite the Realm. Don't you think, Arya?"

"What?" she asked, shaking her head to chase away her thoughts of the feast the night before. "Yes, I think that…I think that her words and the tournament and feast will help. Everyone at the feast was quite merry."

"Did Sansa enjoy the feast?" Bran asked.

Arya nodded. "Sansa always loved feasts. She and Jaime were still dancing when I left. But I didn't stay until the end." Bran had grown good at hiding his feelings, but Arya could see that he didn't approve of Jaime. "She loves him, Bran. And he's nice to her. He saved her from Joffrey and Cersei."

"I may not like the man personally, but he's taken care of her and…she's happy. You saw that at the tourney, Bran," Jon said reluctantly. "Sansa deserves to be happy."

Bran nodded, not saying anything, and Arya wondered why Bran had such a dislike for Jaime. He'd only seen Jaime once – when the royal family came to Winterfell – and all she recalled about it was how in awe he had been of Jaime, since Bran had wished to join the Kingsguard when he was grown. It had been so many years since their father and Robb was killed. And Bran knew that Jaime had nothing to do with either of their deaths.

"He killed Jory and he – he's done other things. Things that…I never thought Sansa could forgive," Bran said weakly, struggling for the words.

Arya exchanged a look with Jon and wondered if he was referring to Jaime's relationship with Cersei. Even so, she didn't understand what Bran was upset about. He'd known that Sansa was wed to Jaime for quite some time and he had never voiced any thoughts about it before. Arya didn't understand how seeing Jaime and Sansa together – with their children – would make Bran express concerns about their marriage.

Arya opened her mouth to say something, and felt Jon rest his hand on her arm. "Let's talk about something we can all agree on. We're not together often. Let's not argue."

If her mind were not already consumed with thoughts of the prior evening, she would have pursued the issue with Bran. Instead, she turned her gaze back to the Blackwater Bay and considered the possibility of traveling west to Lannisport with Jaime and Sansa. She had missed them – both of them. Even if Jaime did know just how to annoy her. And she wanted the chance to get to know her niece and nephews. She also harbored a wish for Jaime to resume teaching her to use her sword. She'd continued practicing on her own, but to train with a swordsman of Jaime's caliber again excited her.

Arya pushed from her mind any thought that she was also excited at the prospect of getting to know her friend Gendry again.

…

Jaime drew back the curtains, chuckling at the sound of Sansa groaning as the morning sunlight hit her eyes. She must have a massive ache in her head to go with the wine she drank last night. He walked over to the bed, watching his little wife burrow under the blankets, and attempt to shield herself from the light. He couldn't hold back his laughter.

"It's not nice to find amusement in the discomfort of others," she mumbled, burying her head under the covers.

Sansa ducked her head under her pillow as Jaime pulled back the blankets, feeling a tingle of desire at the sight of her body. "You should know better than to allow Tyrion to refill your wine glass all night," he whispered, tracing his fingers over her bare skin. The scars from Joffrey's beatings had faded with time, but they were still there, and Jaime always felt the same surge of anger whenever he saw them. "Though I did enjoy the wine's effect on your…appetites." He began placing light kisses on her back and running his hand over the side of her breast.

"Jaime," she said sleepily.

He chuckled at her sleepy voice and placed one final kiss on her neck. "Sit up, Sweet Girl. I've got a something for that head of yours. Tyrion was kind enough to send us some headache powders. You'll need it for our trip west. I'm sure Julianna will want to talk your ear off the entire way about the feast."

Sansa groaned, and reluctantly sat up, wrapping the bedsheet around her body. Jaime wore only his smallclothes and, even in her current state, her eyes wandered over his body, just as his had explored hers. He smirked, noticing her gaze, and walked over to get her a cup of water, mixing in the headache powder. When he returned, Sansa had managed to scoop up his tunic from the floor and put it on, hesitantly pulling her fingers through her mussed hair.

Jaime got into bed beside her, handing her the cup and kissing her cheek. "You were very passionate last night."

She smiled, sipping from the cup and making a face at the taste of it. "As were you."

He kissed her again, his mouth lingering on hers a bit longer. "Drink all of it – I can't have my wife emptying her stomach out the side of her carriage. What would the smallfolk think?"

She leaned against him and drank from her cup. "Jaime? Arya brought a letter with her from my mother." He nodded absently, content with holding his wife and stroking her hair before they began their journey West. "Arya wishes to travel with us to the Rock. To visit with us for a while and…Mother wrote that it would be all right with her. And that, perhaps, we could bring Arya back North ourselves after several moons and…well…I could see Winterfell again."

He looked down at her. She had stuttered that out nervously, as ill-composed as he'd seen her in quite some time. Her nervousness told him just how much she wished to see her home again.

"Sansa? You can't honestly believe I would deny you the chance to go home? I promised you, long ago, that you would see Winterfell again. I mean to keep my promise." Jaime knew that Sansa had dreamed of returning to Winterfell ever since her father was executed. He also supposed it would be good for the children to see their mother's childhood home and meet their grandmother.

"And Arya? Is it all right if she visits with us at Casterly Rock for a while?"

Jaime snorted. "She just wants to moon over young Gendry."

Sansa turned and looked at him, a serious expression on her face. "Please stop teasing her about him."

"Since when can your sister not take a bit of teasing? Have the years in in your mother's charge softened her that much?" Even as he said the words, he thought about how Arya had not returned his verbal jabs the previous night. It was quite unlike the girl he'd gotten to know at Casterly Rock. Jaime had expected her to put him in his place, but she had seemed so flustered and unsure of herself. He supposed she was at the age where the opposite sex had a certain appeal. "Very well, Sansa. I'll own that the children will enjoy getting acquainted with their aunt. However bad an influence she may be." Sansa sighed, looking troubled. "What's the matter? You don't really believe she'll corrupt the children?"

"Perhaps we shouldn't encourage her…friendship with Gendry. It will only hurt them both."

"How?"

"Jaime. They could never…be together. I care for them both and I would not wish that heartache on either of them."

He kissed the top of her head and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her back firmly against his chest. "What do you know of loving a man you can't have?" he teased. "You're married to a Lannister. A man who was once in the Kingsguard, sworn to take no wife and father no children. And yet here we are. It seems anything is possible in this new Realm."

Her head rested on his shoulder, but Sansa turned her face towards him and rolled her eyes. "I never considered you to be a hopeless romantic, Jaime," she muttered with a smile. "We're different and you know it. Arya is expected to marry someone that would strengthen ties with the North. For the good of Winterfell and House Stark. It's important to the future of the North that she marry appropriately. I can't do it myself, since I'm already bound to the South."

"You're bound to me, are you?" he teased, nuzzling against her neck. "You worry too much, sweet girl. I don't believe your sister is in danger of a broken heart."

She opened her mouth to protest but the door joining their chamber with the children's room swung open and all three of their little ones came bounding into the room and piled onto the bed.

"Good morning, Mama!" Rickard sang, throwing himself into Sansa's arms.

She hugged him tightly and kissed his cheek, moving out of Jaime's arms and settling beside him with little Rickard on her lap. "Good morning, my darling boy."

"Morning, Papa," he said quietly from his place in Sansa's arms. Jaime smiled and patted his son's head, even as Julianna curled up on his lap and Gerion settled himself between he and Sansa, resting his head against his mother and threading his arm around hers.

"Papa? Will we see the Rock today?" he asked, his green eyes bright with the promise of something he'd anticipated for quite some time. Jaime knew their little lion longed to see Casterly Rock. It was all Gerion had spoken of during their journey from the Free Cities.

"You won't see the Rock today, son. It's a long way from here. But we leave today for Lannisport, and you'll see it soon."

"When will we get to Casterly Rock, Father?" Julianna asked.

"We should reach the Rock in a week." Gerion smiled to himself excitedly, his mind filled with stories his parents had told him about Casterly Rock and Lannisport. Jaime watched Sansa pet Gerion's blonde curls as she cuddled little Rickard in her arms and remembered his mother cuddling and petting him when he was small. Whenever he watched her with their children, Jaime was grateful that they had her in their lives and it made him feel just how much his lady mother's death had cost him. He felt Sansa's eyes on him and saw the concern in her eyes. He smiled, assuring her that he was well.

"Tommen will come with us, won't he, Father?" Julianna asked suddenly, her eyes sad at the thought that Tommen would stay behind in the Capitol.

"Of course he will, Sweetling," Sansa said, reaching over and tucking her hair behind her ear. "Tommen is part of our family – he belongs with us at the Rock. He's still too young to marry. He's going to live with us for several years."

Julianna nodded solemnly, deep in thought. Julianna was close to Tommen – she loved him very much - and Jaime knew it would be difficult for her when he did grow up and leave them for a home of his own. She didn't remember a time when Tommen wasn't there to play with her and protect her. Jaime held her a little tighter.

"Did you enjoy the feast last night, Lioness?"

"Oh, Father, it was wonderful," she exclaimed, her sadness momentarily forgotten. "I'll remember the coronation feast for as long as I live. Did you and Mother dance?"

"We did. We danced, and your lady mother drank a good bit of wine with your Uncle Tyrion." Sansa's eyes widened and he smirked in response. "Every man at the feast wanted the honor of dancing with your lady mother. She was the most beautiful woman in the room – even more beautiful than the Queen. And when I decided I couldn't share her any longer, I spirited her back here."

"Can we have a feast when we get to the Rock?" Julianna asked, her eyes hopeful. "And all of us could go and stay awake all night? It would be the most wonderful thing ever, Father."

Jaime couldn't remember the last time there had been a feast of any sort at Casterly Rock. Certainly not since his mother had died and that had been many years ago. Aunt Genna had always told them that when Lady Joanna was alive, Casterly Rock was filled with joy and laughter. That all stopped when she died, save the moments he, Tyrion and Cersei found with one another as children. That's going to change. Sansa and the children will change the Rock. He knew that the little ones would chase away any of the ghosts that lurked in the corners of Casterly Rock. They would make life in Lannisport as carefree and happy as it had been in Lys.

…

Sansa stood and watched as a long train of wagons were loaded with the many trunks and crates they had brought with them on the two ships that carried them back from Lys. Rickard remained at her side, holding her hand while Gerion and Julianna explored the different wagons and chatted with Jaime's soldiers. She looked down at Rickard.

"Aren't you excited, Sweetling?" He nodded shyly, and Sansa knew he was apprehensive about all of the changes and new places he was seeing after living his whole life in the Free Cities. He was much less adventurous than his twin brother and was happiest when he was near her or Jaime. "You'll like Casterly Rock, I promise you. We'll we'll live right by the Sea, just as we did in Lys. And you and Gerion and Julianna can still swim every day and see the sunshine and run on the beach," she whispered and he smiled then.

She watched as Jaime said his final farewells to Tyrion, kneeling to embrace his brother. They had managed to put the past aside and remember how much they cared for one another. Sansa was grateful for that. Jaime deserved to have his brother in his life again. When she said her farewells over breakfast, Sansa had invited Tyrion and his daughter to visit Casterly Rock often, even if that meant Margaery would be under her roof as well. She knew Jaime missed his brother just as she missed her own family.

Sansa noticed that one of the men of the Night's Watch had wheeled Bran out to the courtyard to see them off. She walked over to her brother, Rickard trailing along beside her. She knelt beside Bran, wondering where Jon and Arya could be, though she was glad for the time alone with Bran. Sansa wasn't sure what to say, knowing that she might never see him again – that it was difficult for him to travel and the Wall was so far from Casterly Rock. She fervently wished that he had not remembered what Jaime had done – that he would be able to see how good Jaime had been to her. She wanted Bran to see Jaime as she did, but she knew that he never would.

"Might I – I'd like to write you, Bran. If it's all right."

He nodded, covering her hand with his own. "Of course, Sansa. I'd like to hear about you and the children."

She sighed, opening her mouth to say something more, but she wasn't able to find the words.

"You didn't tell her already did you? You promised we'd do it together!" Arya exclaimed, dashing toward she and Bran.

"I didn't tell her," Bran said with a soft smile on his face.

Sansa looked around in confusion. She noticed Jon walking over from the stables, Ghost and Nymeria trotting beside him, and a small puppy in his arms. A direwolf pup.

"The kennel master said the pups were old enough to be separated from Nymeria and I knew I wanted you to have this one," Arya said, taking the pup from Jon and thrusting it into Sansa's arms. The little ball of fluff nuzzled against her and licked her chin. Sansa felt her eyes burn as tears threatened to fall at the sight of the tiny pup in her arms. She was dainty and delicate with soft white fur with just a little bit of grey on her head and back. She reminded her so much of her Lady.

"She's for me?" Sansa asked, even as Rickard began reaching up to pet the pup's fur. Sansa knelt down again so her son could pet the pup, a delighted smile on his face.

Arya nodded, patting Nymeria's head. "You're a Stark. You need a direwolf." Sansa noticed Summer sitting at attention beside Bran, and Ghost trailing behind Jon, and knew that Arya was right. Sansa had missed Lady so much in the years since she was killed at Cersei's demand. The pup looked up at Sansa and met her eyes.

"May I pet her, Mother?" Julianna asked, as she and Gerion hurried over to see the new member of their family. Sansa nodded and Julianna and Gerion joined their brother, fussing over the little direwolf pup.

"Why are you sad, Mama?" Rickard asked.

Sansa wiped her eyes, realizing just how teary she was at the gift of the pup, and hugged Rickard against her side. "I'm just happy to have her. I had a pup just like her when I was still a girl."

"What's her name, Mama?" Gerion asked.

"I don't know, Sweetling. We'll have to think on it during our journey west." Sansa rose to her feet, the pup in her arms. "Say goodbye to your uncles," she told the children, who sang out their farewells to Jon and Bran. Arya bid her brothers farewell – her trunk already loaded onto a wagon for her visit at Casterly Rock – before making her way to Sansa's carriage.

"Papa, look!" Rickard said happily, pointing to the pup as Jaime joined them.

Jaime grasped the pup by the chin, turning her face up to look her in the eyes, before looking at Sansa with a raised eyebrow.

"You don't mind, do you?" she whispered. "The children will enjoy her."

"The children?" Jaime repeated skeptically. Sansa knew he wasn't fooled – he knew that the pup was for her not the children - but she also knew that he wouldn't deny her the chance to have another direwolf by her side. "Surrounded by wolves," he muttered to himself, shaking his head.

Jon embraced her and promised to write her. She watched as he hesitantly offered Jaime his hand. Jaime looked at her brother's hand for a moment before shaking it. "Take care of her," Jon said quietly, looking to Sansa.

"You need not worry about that. Your sister will want for nothing." Sansa was surprised when Jaime turned his attention to Bran. He'd not seen or spoken to her brother since the tournament, when they realized that Bran knew the truth. When Bran sent the Queen's dragons to kill him. "Bran," Jaime began and Sansa could see that her brother was as surprised as she was. "I'm sorry for…I wish things had happened differently. I'll always regret…the things my family has done to yours."

Sansa rested her hand on the small of Jaime's back, letting him know that she was beside him. She looked at her brother and knew that he would never truly forgive Jaime. She wondered if she could forgive, were she in Bran's position, and she honestly didn't know. Gerion returned to Jaime's side and began tugging at his coat. Sansa watched her brother's expression soften – and a sadness in his eyes – as Jaime lifted their son into his arms.

Bran swallowed, considering his words. "As Jon said…take care of my sister. She doesn't deserve to suffer anymore."

"You have my word." Bran and Jaime nodded at one another and Sansa knew that her brother would never forgive Jaime – never like him – but she also knew that he accepted that Jaime made her happy.

"Thank you," Sansa whispered to her brother before taking Rickard by the hand and leading him to the carriage – leaving King's Landing behind for good.

…

So sorry it took as long as it did to get this chapter done. Between work and vacation there hasn't been a lot of time to sit and write. And, to be honest, the way the show handled Jaime's character this season made it a little difficult to find the inspiration to write, but I'm committed to finishing this story!

Thank you again to everyone for reading and reviewing. Work has slowed down so my plan is to get the next chapter out in a week or two. And I'm thinking there will be two more (long) chapters to finish this story off.

Next chapter: Jaime & Sansa return to Casterly Rock