SANSA
After a full day of adventure and exploring the city with her brother and uncle, Sansa had soaked in the tub when they returned to the condo, before retiring to her bed. Two hours had passed since Uncle Benjen had come to wish her goodnight before slipping out of the apartment. When Jon came to check on her she asked where Uncle Benjen was going when it was so late.
"Just out and about," Jon had replied shrugging. "He'll be back soon."
Sansa gave him a hug before he returned to his room that was close to hers, only separated by the bathroom that they shared. But that had been around ten p.m. and it was now after midnight. She hadn't been able to sleep since with numerous thoughts whirling through her mind. Finally unable to stand being cowardly any longer, she turned her phone back on.
The loads and loads of missed alerts had her flipping the phone face down as she chewed her bottom lip. Should she call Petyr or should she just wait for him to call? After a few minutes of debating, she decided to wait for him to call. As it turned out, she didn't have to wait long. The abruptness of her ringtone sounding a short while later nearly had her falling off the bed, before she lunged forward to snatch up her phone.
Sansa's body flushed with guilt as she stared down at the ringing device. How awful she had been to not call Petyr and let him know that she was safely at Jon's. She knew the real reason was because she was ashamed of running away and couldn't bear to face his disappointment and hurt. She answered the phone with a timid, "hello."
Petyr's relief was almost palpable. "My sweetling," he said. "You've caused me such a fright, but of course I knew where you were headed."
"Petyr, I'm so sorry," Sansa told him, her voice breaking. "I shouldn't have been deceitful...I just wanted — "
"It's okay, sweetling," his voice was soothing, causing hot tears to burn her eyes. "Come outside and see me. I've missed you so much."
"You're here?" Sansa gaped as his words registered. "In front of Jon's building?"
"You're glad for me to be here, aren't you?" Petyr's voice held a reserved note.
Sansa instantly rushed to soothe him. "Of course, Petyr. That's wonderful. Now you can reacquaint yourself with Jon! And my Uncle Benjen, he's alive too! Oh Petyr I couldn't tell you how happy I am!"
"Sansa." Petyr's quiet, serious tone had her holding back the rest of her words. "Come outside. I want to reacquaint myself with you first, my darling girl."
Sansa chewed her bottom lip nervously. "Petyr, it's so late. If I try to sneak out, the doorman and the front desk clerks would immediately alert Jon."
"Use the building's backdoor. It only opens up from the inside so you will not have any problem leaving. You will just have to reenter through the front entrance."
She could hear the smirk in Petyr's voice and didn't bother to ask why he was so familiar with the layout of the building. She huffed as she stood up. "Okay, I'm coming," she told him.
"My car's waiting near the back door," he informed her before hanging up.
Slipping on her sneakers, Sansa clutched her phone in one hand; the city lights streaming into her room and providing her dim lighting as she walked to the door and slowly pulled it open. She crept out and silently shut the bedroom door behind her, before tiptoeing to the front door as stealthily as possible. Once she made it out safely to the hallway with the apartment door locked behind her, Sansa released a sigh of relief.
It took her a full eighteen minutes to find the back door and make it outside. There was a car parked alongside the curb opposite the door and she rushed to it. The door was unlocked so she threw it open, scrambling into the car and throwing her arms around the familiar figure inside. "Uncle Petyr!" her voice was filled with joy.
"My sweetling." He caught her in a tight embrace, his lips claiming hers as he did so. The kiss lasted for a long time and when he finally released her, Sansa's whole face was flushed. "You have no idea how much I've missed you," Petyr told her as they settled into their seats.
"Where are we going?" she asked surprised, as the car started to move.
"The car can't stay parked here too long. It would look suspicious. And I want time to catch up with you without interruption."
The way that he looked at her let her know that he wanted some more kisses too, and the flush in her face intensified. Sansa watched the people walking about as the car drove by. It was nearly one a.m. Confirmed, she thought. New York is indeed the city that never sleeps. Back at home, not a soul would be out at this hour. But here I am, she acknowledged wryly.
The peaceful silence allowed her to curl up undisturbed, as the smooth motion of the car lulled her to sleep. She slept for a while, forgetting that she was not in her bed, until the sound of light thudding had her jerking awake. The source turned out to be heavy rain hitting the roof of the car.
"It's raining!" Sansa squeaked, rubbing sleep out of her eyes as the car was pelted. "Are we going to have to get out off the car? I don't have an umbrella!"
"Yes!" Petyr's voice was full of amusement.
Sansa could tell that he was laughing at her and she glowered at him. "I'm going to be drenched."
"I will warm you up," he teased.
It was hard to see out of the window with the rain distorting the view, but she realized the absence of the bright lights of New York City, the buildings, and the busy streets.
"Petyr, where are we?" she asked worriedly, turning to him.
"Don't worry, sweetling. I'm taking you to where I'm staying. I told you that I want to talk to you and spend time with you in private." His reply was calm as his focus remained on the road.
"But we're on the highway. And this doesn't look like New York City."
"My hotel is about two hours away," he told her. "I know it's far but I couldn't wait any longer to see you."
"But Petyr...what if Jon realizes I'm not there and calls the police?"
Petyr glanced at her as the car slowed. "Were you so concerned when you left me?"
Sansa looked down at her lap, shamefaced. "I was going to come back at the end of the week," she mumbled.
"It doesn't matter now," Petyr answered, his voice soothing again. "You're safe with me and that's all that matters."
She didn't say anything else as Petyr continued to drive, and soon sleep was pulling her under again.
Her phone rang in her lap and Sansa jumped. "It's Jon," she revealed after glancing at the screen. "He must have checked my room and realized that it's empty and I'm not there."
"Pass me the phone," Petyr said. His voice was quiet but firm and Sansa slowly handed him the phone. He turned it off before pocketing it. "I don't want anyone butting in before we can have our heart to heart," he informed her, his tone light.
She didn't reply as images of Jon's worried face swam in her mind.
After what felt like hours, Petyr finally stopped at a little inn. Sansa gaped at the inn then back at him in surprise. "This is where you're staying?" She couldn't imagine someone as comfortable in their luxury as Petyr staying in such a place.
"All I need is a bed for the night," he replied, before shutting off the car.
The rain was still pouring and Sansa realized in dismay that she was going to get drenched before they made it inside. She reluctantly opened the door and stepped out, her clothes immediately getting soaked from the downpour.
"Inside, quickly," Petyr told her, and she hurried after him. Once they made it to his room, he told her to get into the bathroom and take a hot bath. "You're shivering, sweetling," he reasoned, as she stood miserable and shaking, glancing around at the tiny room with one bed.
Sansa didn't bother to argue. She was more than ready to part ways with her wet, cold clothes.
"Here," Petyr said. "A change of clothes."
She accepted the white material without glancing at it, and made her way to the bathroom. The tub looked clean, so she pulled up the plug and turned on the water. She poured some of the liquid soaps that were available into the water before struggling out of the clinging, damp material that the rain had turned her pajamas into, and stepping into the tub.
It felt like heaven as she sank down in the heated water. Her shivering was soon gone as she sat back and relaxed for a few minutes.