SANSA

It was a quiet and tense atmosphere inside the courtroom during the final date of the trial, as they waited to hear the verdict.

Sansa had one arm wrapped around her hound and the other clutched in Uncle Benjen's tight grip as they waited.

Finally, the moment of truth arrived. Sansa's ears began to buzz as she heard the word guilty, she gasped turning to Uncle Benjen as her eyes pooled with tears, but he had already sprung out his seat swooping her up in a bear hug as another guilty verdict reached their ears.

"We won," Jon's voice was brimming with emotion as he joined in the hug.

A crowd quickly congregated around their row as people came to offer their congratulations, exchanging hearty handshakes, hugs, and back claps.

Sansa was wrapped up in so many hugs that she lost count of who hugged her. She laughed happily when she finally collapsed on the bench. "I think this is the best day ever," she thrilled.

"Who's ready for some celebratory ice cream?" Uncle Benjen asked.

"And pizza," Sansa interjected.

There were happy cheers of approval as they all agreed to meet up at a nearby pizza and ice cream parlor.

Several smaller tables were pushed together to accommodate their large party, and large slices of pizza with different toppings were passed around until everyone had eaten their full. Next came ice cream, which some turned down but Sansa and Jon helped themselves to seconds.

Sansa had just finished her ice cream as Sandor stood up to take his leave. She stood up too and made her way over to him. "Bye Sandor," she said, hugging him tightly. "Thank you for everything. Thank you for bringing me to New York. Thank you for finding me at the inn. Thank you for visiting me in the hospital. Thank you for coming to the trial. And thank you for the hound. If I remember more things to thank you for I'll include them when I email you."

Sandor's rough laughter vibrated through her ears and Sansa squeezed him tighter before releasing him with a misty smile.

They were both surprised when Uncle Benjen and Jon approached to shake Sandor's hand and acknowledge his role in helping them reach this point. Jon gave a respectful nod to Sandor before Sandor turned and departed after receiving one last hug from Sansa.

Back at the table, everyone had stuffed themselves full and quiet conversations were being conducted in low murmurs. Uncle Benjen nudged the family lawyer whom he had invited. With a nod the man stood up and followed them to an unoccupied table for a private conversation.

"So what is your view on the adoption? Would it be wise to go ahead and file adoption claims for Arya and Bran? Or wiser to wait a few months after the high of this trail has died down?" It was straight to business.

Sansa listened intently, her eyes on the lawyer as he pondered Uncle Benjen's words. His expression didn't look promising.

"Realistically? Don't count on getting the kids back," the lawyer finally spoke. "Getting overseas adoptions repealed is difficult enough for birth parents, let alone an uncle. My advice would be to get on good terms with the adopted parents and work out an arrangement where the kids can visit several times a year and keep in contact through Skype and FaceTime when they're not visiting.

"That's what is healthier for everyone. A harsh custody battle to remove children from loving homes does more harm than good. Not to mention the amount of guilt the children will eventually feel at tearing apart the families that they have been a part of for the last four years."

Sansa's heart sank. This was not what she wanted to hear. She was quiet on the way back home, mulling over what the lawyer had stated. Jon had not spoken one word since, but his brooding expression was already in place.

During dinner time, Uncle Benjen revealed his decision. "I've decided not to pursue getting the adoptions repealed. I agree that a custody battle would be harsh, difficult, and drawn out, which would result in inflicting more emotional scars on everyone. And that is exactly what I want to avoid."

Sansa looked at Jon, ready to take his lead. But his face was impassive as he focused on what Uncle Benjen was saying.

"My goal is for Arya and Bran to be happy and to minimize any trauma that they may have. And I cannot in good faith draw them into a custody battle that has a high potential to turn nasty. But I will reach out to their adopted parents about having the kids visit us often. If not directly on holidays, then the days leading up to holidays, birthdays, occasions like that. And also daily Skype sessions if possible. We'll try to keep in touch with them however necessary." Uncle Benjen was very firm about that.

Sansa swallowed with difficulty. She was sorely disappointed but she understood. They had to protect the psychological well being of Arya and Bran. "Can we call their adopted parents and schedule a three way Skype with Bran and Arya tomorrow?" she asked.

"We'll try. If not tomorrow then sometime this week, definitely," Uncle Benjen confirmed.

That night as Sansa lay in her sleeping bag, she found it impossible to sleep. She had naively believed that once the trial was over, all of her stress would be gone and sleep would easily come to her. But now she found it difficult to settle her hyperactive mind as it buzzed with loads of information. So she lay awake mulling over her uncle's decision not to pursue overturning the adoption, then her mind went back to recounting the trial, before it settled on the man that had started it all.

"Uncle Benjen," Sansa whispered to her uncle who was still awake. "Why did Mother trust Petyr and keep him close even though he was obsessed with her? Father never liked him and yet he still allowed Petyr close too." That question had been bothering Sansa for a while. How could her mother who had been so consumed with love for her family not have realized the threat that Petyr posed to them? And how come Father never stopped it?

It was quiet for so long that Sansa thought her uncle wouldn't answer, but finally he spoke.

"I think once upon a time, Baelish's love was pure. He was a kid that genuinely loved a girl and nearly died for her. But as he grew older, his bitterness over losing her tainted and corrupted his love and transformed it into a dark obsession for the girl that got away. Your mother was blind to what he had become, perhaps because he hid it so well. Catelyn only saw the boy she once knew. Ned loved his wife and wanted her happy, even if it meant tolerating Baelish, and Baelish blindsided them both. We know how that story ended." Uncle Benjen's voice was solemn.

Sansa sighed. "I just wish...that all of this never happened."

There was a long silence as they each were absorbed in their own reflection on the paths their lives had taken. The tragedies, the happiness, and the bittersweet moments in between. And with the silence surrounding her, Sansa finally drifted off to sleep.