SANSA

It was with great reluctance that Sansa entered her psychiatrist's office the following week. Today was the day that Arya was arriving and Uncle Benjen had already left to pick her up by the time Sansa awoke and began getting ready. Filled with restless energy, Sansa had decided to utilize it by walking to her appointment.

"I still find it hard to believe that Bran's paralyzed," Jon had mumbled, his brows furrowed, as he walked by her side to drop her off. Only three days prior, Uncle Benjen had revealed to them the devastating and permanent injury that Bran had sustained in the accident.

"It's better than being dead," Sansa voiced. The more that she learned about Bran, the more that it hit her that he was alive. Yes she was upset about his inability to use the lower portion of his body, but at least she would be able to hug him and hear his voice and see his eyes sparkle with mischief once more.

"I know," Jon said. "But he used to love to climb so much. He was always getting into trouble when he climbed the huge trees on our property. Your mother was always so scared that he would fall."

Sansa wrinkled her nose. Jon, Robb, Arya, and Rickon had been filled with delight at Bran's gift for climbing to the highest branches of any of the trees located on the three acres of land that surrounded their estate. But Sansa had hated it. She always immediately ran to tell Mother whenever she spotted him climbing. Because Sansa was also afraid that he would fall and break his neck. Or become paralyzed. But it wasn't a fall from the trees that did it.

Too soon they'd arrived at her psychiatrist's, and with a warm hug for her older brother, while her mind was filled with the memory of her younger one, she'd reluctantly opened the door and entered the building.

Now she was stuck here counting down the minutes, wishing that Uncle Benjen had allowed her to cancel her appointment for today and accompany him to the airport.

He'd told her no last night when she asked. "You will see Arya when you return. But I want you to keep all of your appointments. It will help you get better. Help you heal."

When her session was finally over, Sansa flew out the door, nearly bumping into Uncle Benjen who was waiting for her. "You're back! Where's Arya?" she exclaimed, peering around him.

"Ready to leave?" he asked, instead of answering her question.

"Beyond," she told him.

Although Sansa had welcomed the idea of walking here, she now balked at the thought of walking when Uncle Benjen suggested that they walk back to the apartment. "You're just doing this to torture me," she sniffed, letting out a long suffering sigh. The thirty minute walk seemed to last forever this time, and Sansa impatiently ran into the building when they finally reached it, breathlessly greeting the lobby staff as she hurried to the elevators.

"Where is she?" Sansa demanded of her uncle as the elevator doors slid shut, but Uncle Benjen didn't reply as they rode up to the condo. His eyes were filled with more mischief than Arya's eyes had ever been, and Sansa huffed as the doors opened on their floor and Uncle Benjen exited, whistling a cheerful tune.

By the time Sansa crashed into the condo, she was bursting with excitement. She ran down the gallery at full speed, spotting a pair of dark heads bowed together, deep in conversation. Her heart stopped as it recognized the smaller figure. "ARYA!" Sansa screamed. She tackled her sister, nearly crushing the younger girl as the force of her hug toppled them onto the couch. Jon was laughing beside them, and Sansa was nearly giddy with happiness. When she finally pulled back, her eyes were so full of tears that she could hardly make out her sister's features.

The thirteen year old was tiny, barely standing taller than Sansa's shoulder, and her resemblance to Jon was stronger than ever. "You're still as mushy as ever, I see," Arya joked, but her grey eyes were misty and her grin watery, her cheeks still wet from previously shed tears.

"Oh, Arya," Sansa sighed, enveloping her in another fierce hug.

"Don't squish me!" the younger girl squeaked, causing Sansa to dissolve into happy giggles.