A/N: Hey guys, new chapter for you all that I hope you enjoy! Just want to say a big thank you to everyone as always. I had some pretty sucky news today that might effect my next update, hopefully it won't but just to warn you!

Guest: You're very welcome. Being GoT land I think sixteen is probably about a norm (even for overprotective parents!) I think Tywin may have had something to say had they delayed it. And they will visit (both ways!) I only meant that Sansa was tactless for saying she would hate to be stuck in the North forever (given that's what Amy's "fate" is). As for Amy not knowing part of her family, it is strange, but you have to assume Jaime and Lana have come up with reasons enough for her not to be suspicious. Sansa definitely won't be going through the hell she does in canon, that's all I'll say. Thanks so much for the review, hope you enjoy this new one!

unnamed visitor: Bless him he tried his best! Poor thing. Sansa won't go through the hell of canon, Steffon might not be perfect but he will definitely not be another Joffrey. Glad you liked the Jon scene, there won't be much of him for a while but when we get to part four (quite a while away I know!) I plan on using his character a lot more. Jaime and Lanette are almost here (see below haha) so you will see exactly what reactions we have! As for Jon's parentage, I honestly have not decided yet on what I'm going to do with that! Time will tell. Thank you very much again, hope you like the update!

ItsLiz: The name change is noted but I figured it was you ;) Glad you enjoyed the Amy/Theon banter, clearly he's backed off and just enjoys winding her (and everyone else) up now! Haha, yes, Arya and Jon were not welcome interruptions for poor Amy and Robb! Maybe not so much Amy/Jon interaction on this visit but he will visit again and I'm planning a rather big heart-to-heart between the pair of them (about what I cannot possibly say!) Yes ... the parents are coming, and you don't have to wait any longer to find out the reactions! Thank you very much, so glad you enjoyed - hope you like the new one!

Guest: Thank you! I do think Amy would be rather adult given that she's an only child raised surrounded mainly by adults. Given that she's known her duty and what was awaiting her since she was ten I don't think it's too surprising she's well adjusted to the situation. As for Sansa, I was referring to her comment about being stuck in the North being tactless, you're right that it's odd she hasn't met some of her extended family but I imagine Jaime and Lana would have formed many an excuse for the reason why not. As for it being too sweet, I'm afraid that's intentional, you have stumbled upon my relief fic from writing drama! There will be conflict/tensions later on but I'm afraid most of part two is going to continue being just as sweet. If you can hang on in there until part three I can promise things will pick up haha! We're at the half way point for part two if that helps? Big thank you for the comments on prose and grammar, it's good to know I'm getting that right! Sorry you're not 100% enjoying the plot but I hope you hang in there, thanks very much for the review!

Right-ho guys! On we go, hope you enjoy this one!

:)

Bonds

When Amy opened the drapes to see the sun streaming in through the window she could have sang out in happiness. It seemed that she and Robb would be going out to the hot springs after all and she was deliriously happy at the prospect. She dressed quickly and brushed through her hair before barrelling out of her chamber and hoping that Robb was still in the dining hall so she wouldn't have to go looking for him. As she came down the stairs her face broke out into a wide smile as he stood there leaning against the open front door with a bread roll in his hand that she could see was stuffed full of crispy bacon and a knapsack slung over his shoulder. He looked up and grinned at her then, holding the roll out to her as she approached. "I've already eaten, I thought you could have yours on the way," he told her as she reached out and took it from him. "Impatient are you?" she asked him teasingly as she followed him out of the keep and down the steps. "I have to make the most of having you to myself before your parents arrive, I doubt they'd be impressed at how often we're alone together," he said.

"Why shouldn't we be alone together? We are set to be married, how else are we supposed to get to know one another?" she asked him innocently as she fell into step beside him.

"How indeed," he agreed, a cheeky grin on his face as they made their way to the gardens.

They continued their journey in silence as Amy swallowed down her bacon roll, secretly grateful that Robb had brought it out for her as she was as impatient as he seemed to be to get to the hot springs. She wondered if he might try to kiss her again or whether he had been put off by his first two interrupted attempts. Sinfully she hoped he hadn't been, she wanted to feel his lips on hers, to be that close to him. It would only be a kiss, there was no harm in a kiss. Her mother had always taught her to be virtuous but she was hardly going to let Robb get between her thighs. Just a kiss. There was no harm in a kiss.

They were crossing through the Godswood then as she rubbed her hands together to rid them of the crumbs from her breakfast. "Is it much further?" she asked Robb as he took her hand and led her into a small thicket of trees. "Not far at all," he promised her, "just on the other side of the trees, there's a clearing." She could see the light through the other side of the trees then and she knew that they must be close. Robb's hand squeezed hers slightly as they crossed into the clearing. She could see the steam emitting from the pools and she smiled widely as she took in the sight of them. They were all shapes and sizes and her eyes soon found the biggest of them which would be perfect to swim in. Just as she decided that Robb was pulling her towards it as though he had read her mind. "We all learned to swim here," he told her, "in the smaller, shallower pools at first but when we were good enough we couldn't wait to jump in this one."

"I cannot blame you for that it looks fantastic," she told him and he grinned.

"I brought towels out," he told her then, slipping the knapsack from his shoulder.

"Thoughtful of you," she praised him as she watched him settle down on the grass and begin unlacing his boots. She eased her own feet from her shoes then before tentatively coming to untie the lacings of her dress. Of course she had a shift on underneath but it still felt strange disrobing in Robb's presence. He didn't seem to have the same qualms though as he shrugged out of his doublet before loosening his shirt and pulling it up and over his head. For a moment she could do nothing but stare at his bare chest but then she caught herself, averting her eyes and concentrating on undoing her own lacings. A splash reached her ears then and she looked up sharply, giggling at once when she saw that Robb had jumped right into the water. She let her dress come from her shoulders and approached the edge of the pool, hesitating slightly. "Just jump right in!" he implored her and she bit her lip, steeling herself before she did as she was told.

She gasped at the warmth of the water, it was just as hot as a bath. She had been expecting warmth but not to this degree. "What do you think?" Robb asked her as he tread water a few feet from her. "Fantastic," she told him, mirroring his movements, her feet tentatively searching for the bottom but feeling only water beneath her. She wasn't worried, she was a strong swimmer after all but it was nice to be able to feel solid ground if need be. "How deep is it?" she asked Robb then and he shrugged his shoulders. "Very," he said simply, "if you take a deep breath and dive down you can just about scrape your fingertips along the bottom," he told her and her eyes widened slightly. "You go first," she urged him and he grinned at her before he took in a great mouthful of air and dived down gracefully into the depths. She counted the seconds he was down there, her eyes trained on the spot where he had disappeared from, the bubbles coming up every now and again telling her that he was alright. He came up gasping after nearly a minute and her heart began beating more normally again. "Did you get there?" she asked and he nodded, still gasping and she imagined he needed a moment to recover his breath.

She eyed him for a moment before she took in a great gulp of her own and dived down. Her ears popped as she furiously kicked her legs and swept her arms back over and over, pushing her deeper and deeper down. She used up her breath more quickly than she would have liked and still there was no sign of the bottom. It was no good, her head was pounding now, her lungs screaming for air and so she flipped herself around. She felt the bottom under her foot then and pushed down with all her strength so she propelled back up to the surface. Never had she been more grateful for air when she broke the surface and breathed it in hungrily. "Are you alright?" Robb asked her in concern and she managed to nod as she swam to the edge so she could hold onto it for a moment. "Did you make it?" he asked her, coming to hang on next to her, his eyes finding hers. "I ran out of breath," she told him, "but when I made to come back up I touched the bottom with my foot. Does that count?" He grinned at her then; "aye, I think that counts," he confirmed and it was her turn to smile widely. "Perhaps we should take a break?" he suggested and she nodded her agreement to which he hauled himself up and out of the water.

Amy stayed where she was for a moment, unable to help but admire the way the water droplets cascaded down the strong muscles of his arms and back as he retreated to the knapsack. He pulled out a towel and wrapped it around his torso, rubbing himself dry for a moment before he bent down again to pull out another. He came back towards her then and held it out for her, she tugged it from his grip with her thanks and he averted his eyes as she pulled herself out of the water and wrapped it securely about her. "We should dry off in the sun in no time," he said and she nodded her agreement as they ambled back towards the knapsack. Robb discarded his towel after a while, sitting down on the grass for a moment before he lay back down and closed his eyes to the bright sunshine. Amy watched him carefully, her eyes trained on the rise and fall of his chest, taking in the sprinkling of dark auburn hair that covered it before she found the hair that trailed down from his navel and disappeared under his breeches. She shuddered then and she knew it wasn't with cold as every part of her felt deliciously warm.

After a while she came to sit by his side, mere inches from where he was laying and he turned his head, no doubt sensing her presence, and sent her a lazy smile which she returned happily. He closed his eyes again after a moment and she shifted herself slightly onto her knees so she could better admire him stretched out in the sun. She let her towel drop from around her after a while, thinking her shift would dry better in the direct sunlight. Her eyes went to her own chest then but thankfully her shift had not become too transparent, her modesty was just about protected. She was itching to reach out and touch Robb but she was too craven to give in to the powerful urge. Instead she lay herself down at his side and closed her own eyes to the sun, only opening them again when a shadow loomed over her.

Robb had shifted himself up onto his side and was leaning over her, a look in his deep blue eyes that she had never seen before which made her stomach twist in knots. His hand came to cup her cheek then and her breathing accelerated of its own accord. "You're so beautiful," he said softly, his face coming closer to hers. At his words her own confidence grew and she let one of her own hands come up and settle in his hair, twisting his curls around her fingers as she had imagined doing the first moment she had laid eyes on him. "Can I kiss you Amy?" he breathed and she could only nod as the knots in her stomach tightened even more and her heart almost felt like it had stopped. He leaned in then and she closed her eyes automatically as his lips touched hers. Once. Twice. Lingering on the third time as she moved hers with his uncertainly. He encouraged her movement, coaxing her to part her lips further, the hand that was cupping her cheek slipping down to tangle in her hair.

She was surprised at first when he slipped his tongue into her mouth but then she tasted him and she couldn't help but twist her own with his, wanting to taste more. Needing to taste more. He seemed to respond well to her action, a small groan coming from his mouth that vibrated in her own and had an involuntary noise of pleasure leaving her own mouth, an odd warmth spreading from her stomach and down between her thighs. In the next instant he had moved away though and she was shocked, and even a little upset. Had she done something wrong? He looked back at her again and she saw that odd look in his eye had intensified. "I'm sorry," he breathed, "I had to stop I … I wanted you too much." She felt heat rise up on her cheeks as she understood his words, her teeth coming to bite down gently on her lower lip. "I wanted you too," she confessed quietly and he exhaled deeply, one of his hands running through his hair. "Don't say that Amy," he said, shaking his head, "you don't know how much I'm struggling to control myself." She didn't know what to say to that so she said nothing, swallowing hard before she slowly sat herself up, hesitating for a moment before laying her hand on his shoulder. "Perhaps we should go back?" she suggested and he nodded, a smile coming to his lips as he turned his head so he could press a kiss to her hand that was still laying on his shoulder. "That might be for the best," he agreed.

Jaime let Lanette exchange pleasantries with the Starks, his own mind was firmly concentrated on finding his daughter. He scanned the courtyard for her but he could see no sign and he frowned slightly, surely she would have come out to greet them? Gods, what if she was sick? He snapped his eyes to Lady Stark then who was still speaking with Lanette and his impatience rose up rather quickly in him. "Where is my daughter?" he interrupted, ignoring the sharp look that Lanette sent him at his brisk tone. "She and Robb walked out this morning, she wasn't expecting you until nightfall," Lady Stark told him.

"Of course," Lanette smiled.

"She's with him alone? No chaperone?" he questioned and his wife took hold of his arm.

"Robb is her chaperone, we trust our son to look after her, to remember his duty and honour," Lord Stark said stonily.

"Of course," Lanette said again, "and we trust in our daughter's virtue, don't we Jaime?" she continued, digging her fingers into his forearm.

"Yes," he forced a smile to his face, "of course, I was just rather hoping to see her as soon as we arrived"

"Well I'm sure they'll – oh – look, here they come now," Lady Stark said brightly.

Jaime followed her line of sight then and couldn't help but narrow his eyes at the sight he was greeted with. Amy was giggling seemingly uncontrollably at something the man whose arm she was clinging tightly to had whispered in her ear. She had evidently not seen them yet as she looked up at him and said words that Jaime could not make out but that had him laughing heartily in the next moment. Lanette squeezed his arm again then and he realised that it was likely painfully obvious that he was glaring daggers at Robb Stark. He sized the man up and was disappointed to note that he would probably not be able to intimidate him physically should the need arise. Still, he would no doubt be able to humble him in the tiltyard and that at least brought him some comfort. Amy turned her eyes in their direction then and she seemed to do a double take, her eyes widening for a moment before a scream of delight left her mouth. She dropped Robb Stark's arm at once and came hurtling towards them. Lanette dropped his arm and stepped forward in time to grab their daughter in a tight embrace.

"I was not expecting you so soon else I would have been here!" Amy scolded herself.

"Don't worry about that," Lanette pushed her away slightly after a moment; "Gods look at you, you are even more beautiful, the northern air must agree with you"

"I suppose it must," Amy smiled widely at her mother for a moment before her eyes slid to Jaime's.

"Come here," he grinned at her, holding his arms out so she could step into his embrace.

"I cannot believe you are both here!" she exclaimed happily as he clutched her close for a long moment.

"I'm sorry we missed your name day," Jaime told her as she pulled back from him.

"It's alright," she said, still smiling brightly, "you're here now"

"We have your gift but you'll have to wait until our things are unpacked," Lanette spoke up, "there is something from your grandfather and Tyrion as well"

"How is uncle Tyrion, where has he reached on his travels?" she asked then, her eyes wide.

"He doesn't seem to have got further than Dorne," Jaime told her.

"He's still there?!" she asked incredulously.

"I do believe Prince Oberyn is keeping him well entertained," Lanette told her.

"How about we have luncheon together?" Lady Stark suggested, "Some time to get to know one another better before the feast tonight?"

"That sounds like a wonderful idea Lady Stark," Lanette answered, "perhaps I can sort your hair out Amy, what in the name of the Gods have you been doing?"

"Swimming," she said simply but Jaime noted the light blush rising on her cheeks and the cheeks of Robb Stark and his eyes narrowed again of their own accord.

Lanette appraised her daughter as she settled herself down in front of the vanity and picked up the brush, idly beginning to pull it through her tangled hair. She doubted very much that Amy had just been swimming but she did not think her daughter would have compromised her honour, she was far too clever for that. No doubt she had shared stolen kisses with Robb Stark and Lanette could hardly blame her, the boy was handsome indeed. She didn't think Jaime would share her sentiments though and so she had sent him off to amuse himself so she could have Amy to herself for a little while before the luncheon.

"So what were you really doing this morning?" she asked as she came to stand behind Amy.

"Swimming," her daughter answered and she raised her brows; "at first …"

"And then?" Lanette asked, a small smile playing about her lips.

"I let him kiss me," Amy told her, dropping her eyes to her intertwined hands.

"I see," she said lightly, her hands coming to begin braiding her hair away from her face.

"Could you leave the back loose?" Amy asked her then.

"Whatever you want sweetheart," Lanette replied, "did you enjoy the kiss?"

"I …" Amy blushed slightly and Lanette smiled widely.

"That would be a yes then," she said knowingly and Amy nodded, her cheeks burning.

"You won't tell father will you?" Amy asked fearfully.

"Of course not, so long as you promise he did not try and take things further," Lanette said.

"Robb wouldn't do that," Amy shook her head, "honour means too much to him"

"I'm glad to hear it," she smiled and Amy returned the gesture in the mirror.

"I think I might love him mother," Amy said after a moment and Lanette's eyes widened.

"Well … that's good," she managed to get out, "but sweetheart I would encourage you not to say anything of it until you are certain he feels the same"

"I know he likes me," Amy nodded her head, "he likes me a lot"

"I don't doubt it," Lanette said, pinning her hair in place before resting her hands on Amy's shoulders lightly; "but sometimes it is best to guard your heart"

"Do you think he won't love me?" Amy asked, her expression hurt.

"Of course not," Lanette soothed her at once, "I am sure he will, but you ought to let him tell you that himself before you make any declarations of your own"

"Alright," Amy nodded, a smile coming to her lips again; "thank you mother, no one can braid my hair quite as well as you do"

"You're welcome," she beamed at her in the mirror, "now let's get you into a clean dress and join the others before we are late and your father sends out a search party."

Robb felt intensely uncomfortable as he sat in his chair just waiting for Amy and her mother to enter the room. He could practically feel the tension between his father and Amy's father and his mother was not much better, constantly glancing nervously between them. He got the feeling that Amy's father did not like him very much either as he kept narrowing his eyes in his direction but he could think up nothing in his head that would thaw the frosty atmosphere. He wished Amy would come back soon, being in her presence always relaxed him but then again he wasn't sure her father would approve of the closeness between them. But then would it be better if he acted as though he was indifferent to her? Surely her father would prefer her to be with a man who would protect her and cherish her and love her. He blinked rather rapidly then. Love. Love was something he had hoped for, something he had hoped would build in time as his mother had always told him would happen. He had never expected love to burst in unexpectedly and announce itself. Then again was it that ridiculous that he should be in love with Amy? He had only been in her presence for a few months but he had known her for six years. Surely that had to count for something?

He was pulled from his confusing thoughts as the door to the smaller dining hall opened and Amy trailed in, followed by her mother. Amy sent a beaming smile his way and to his delight made her way around the table and towards him. He made the mistake of glancing at her father and saw his expression was thunderous as Robb rose out of his own chair to pull the one next to him out for Amy. She smiled widely at him then as she seated herself and he returned her smile, keeping his gaze firmly away from her father as he lowered himself back into his own chair.

"So …" Amy's mother began awkwardly then, "how are the plans for the wedding coming?"

"Well," his own mother seized on the topic with heightened enthusiasm, "Amella has her final dress fitting tomorrow; perhaps you'd like to come?"

"I would absolutely love to," Amy's mother said in response and Robb noted her hand seeking out her husband's and applying a great deal of pressure.

"It's beautiful mother, a perfect mix of north and south," Amy piped up at his side and he smiled slightly at her happy tone.

"I cannot wait to see it," her mother said.

"You know father, Robb's younger brother Bran has been very much looking forward to your arrival," Amy said, glancing hopefully towards her father.

"Is that right?" he replied, the smile on his face looking rather forced to Robb.

"Yes," she smiled at his side, "it is his greatest ambition to be a knight, he was hoping you would perhaps show him some tricks in the tiltyard"

"And what of your betrothed? Would he care to join us?" her father was looking at him rather menacingly and Robb swallowed hard.

"I'm sure he would be delighted," Amy said then, her eyes flickering to his and he saw the hope in them and he couldn't disappoint her.

"It would be an honour to train with you Ser Jaime," Robb said and Amy practically glowed with happiness beside him. For that alone it was worth it.

"Then I will see you in the tiltyard young Stark," her father smirked at him.

"I can hardly wait," Robb returned, thinking he would rather do anything else in the world.

"I hope you will be careful with one another, I do not want bruised lips nor black eyes on my wedding day," Amy said teasingly.

"No indeed," her mother and his mother agreed at the same time.

"I'll be gentle with him," her father smiled then but Robb could see no warmth in it.

"Thank you for your consideration Ser," Robb said, meeting his eyes, "I'll make sure to show you the same."

A/N: Another one down, hope you enjoyed it!

One more chapter before the big day is upon us. I will update as soon as I can, hopefully things won't be delayed but we shall see.

Thanks for reading!

:)