A/N: Hey guys, sorry it's been a while since I last updated, here I am though, hope you enjoy the new chapter and thanks for being patient with me!

unnamed visitor: Thank you very much, glad you liked the introduction and Robb's reactions to the Rock. A few more chapters until the Tywin POV but it will be a whole chapter so hopefully the wait will be worth it. Thanks, glad you're reassured, and as worried as Tywin is I don't think he'd say anything in front of Amy and risk upsetting his darling granddaughter. Tyrion has some troubles but I hope to make him feel a little better in coming chapters. Thanks for the ideas about the babies, but I do have an idea already in place for the first child. As for the rest...who knows! Hope you enjoy the update.

tbug: Well I do love Tyrion, and this is my "happy" fic...so take from that what you will... ;)

Right-ho folks, onwards!

:)

Edge

Lanette went in search of Amy the morning after she had arrived after a rather irritable conversation with her good-father. Thankfully she knew that Robb and Jaime had already gone out into the tiltyard and so she would at least have her daughter to herself for a little while. She really wasn't relishing talking to her daughter about her intimate relationship with her husband but Tywin had been rather insistent on the matter. He wanted to know why there was no prospect yet of him becoming a great-grandfather and Lanette had given in in the end and promised to talk to Amy. A maid pointed her out towards one of the terraces and she found Amy breaking her fast, almost lazily dropping grapes into her mouth every few moments as she looked out over the sea. "Do you mind if I join you?" Lanette asked her and she visibly started before a smile came to her face. "Of course not," Amy said, "there is far too much for just me. Robb was supposed to join me but father practically dragged him away as soon as we left our chambers this morning."

"He's bored of sparring with the men here," Lanette told her as she sat down.

"I hope he at least let him get something from the dining hall first," Amy said, shaking her head, "it will do no good for him to spar on an empty stomach, he will be grouchy by luncheon if he does," she continued. "What?" she asked after a moment, clearly catching sight of Lanette's amused smile.

"When you left here you were just a girl and your most pressing worries were about which dress you would wear for the day or how you would do your hair," Lanette explained. "Now you're back and a woman grown with a husband. It's strange to hear you sounding like a concerned wife is all."

"Concerned for myself," Amy muttered then before taking a sip of juice, "he truly is grumpy when he's hungry."

"Well if that is the only time he is grumpy then you should count your blessings," she smiled.

"I suppose I should," Amy agreed.

"You are happy aren't you, with him? The North?" Lanette pressed her then.

"Of course I am," she confirmed at once, "I love him. And I love the North despite how different it is. It's wonderful being back here though …"

"It's wonderful to have you back," Lanette said before biting down gently on her bottom lip; "it will be our turn to visit you next."

"Yes," Amy smiled, "although I'm sure you will need a good excuse to get leave from grandfather."

"I'm sure you're right," Lanette laughed slightly, "perhaps when you and Robb are blessed."

"Perhaps," Amy said quietly, her eyes sliding back to look out over the sea.

"Have I spoken out of turn?" Lanette asked.

"No of course not," Amy smiled but she could see it did not quite reach her eyes.

"Are you worried?" Lanette asked her quietly, reaching her hand out to take hers.

"In truth I thought I would be with child by now," Amy told her, "Robb and I … try," she said meaningfully and Lanette nodded her understanding; "but nothing ever comes of it."

"How does he feel about it?" she asked her then.

"He's not worried at all, he's told me it doesn't matter, that he is more than content with it just being the two of us for now. I like it that way too," Amy met her eyes, "but I do want to have a baby, to share a child with him and be a true family."

"It will happen in time, trust me," Lanette told her firmly.

"I know," Amy nodded, looking more reassured, "that's what Lady Stark told me."

"You ought to listen to her, she's a wise woman," Lanette said and Amy giggled slightly.

"Thank you mother," she smiled.

"For what? It seems I have merely repeated Lady Stark's advice," Lanette said.

"Yes but …" Amy frowned slightly for a moment, "as wonderful as she is, she's not my mother. You are, and you always know how to make me feel better."

Robb clashed his sword against Ser Jaime's again, somehow managing to side-step his good-father just in time. Had he made contact then Robb had no doubt that he would have been on the floor in an instant with a blade pressed against his throat. Ser Jaime certainly knew how to put him through his paces but Robb had lasted longer in this bout than he had in any of the others. He had no doubt that his good-father would best him eventually but he was confident that he would have at least given him a bit of a challenge. They clashed furiously again then, their blades almost sparking off one another as they both blocked the intended blows. Ser Jaime wrong-footed him in the next moment though and he was not quite quick enough to recover. In the next moment he was flat on his back, his good-father outstretching his hand to help him back up to his feet. "Bad luck," he said, clapping him on the back and dusting some of the dust off his mail. "You wrong-footed me, I didn't even see it coming until it was too late," Robb replied, breathing hard as they walked to the benches to pick up their water skins. "You lasted a good while there Stark, have you thought about entering the hand-to-hand at the wedding tourney?" he said.

"Are you trying to get me killed off?" Robb asked jokingly and Jaime grinned at him.

"There was a time I might have considered it," he said and Robb raised his brows; "but then I would run the risk of marrying Amy off to another man, and she might not tolerate him as well as she tolerates you."

"Tolerates?" Robb repeated and Jaime laughed at him.

"Alright … likes then," he said and it was Robb's turn to laugh.

"I do love her you know," Robb said seriously after a moment and Jaime met his eyes.

"I know," he conceded, "but when you have a daughter of your own Stark you will understand that no man is ever good enough."

"Right," Robb said, frowning slightly again.

"But you're about the best I could have hoped for," Jaime said after a moment and he smiled.

"Thank you," he said and his good-father merely nodded in return.

"So?" Jaime raised his brows; "Hand-to-hand?"

"With you in the lists? I don't think there would be any point," Robb shook his head.

"I'm only entering the joust," he told him, "think about it … I think you've got a good shot."

"I will," Robb agreed and his good-father clapped him on the back again.

"Good," he nodded, "now as much as I would rather stay out here and spar all day, I have duties to attend to."

"I ought to find Amy, she wanted to show me some of the sights," Robb said, falling into step with him as they walked back towards the keep.

"There's plenty to see," Jaime said.

"I don't doubt it," Robb agreed as they ascended the steps into the entrance hall.

"Right, I suppose I will see you at dinner," Jaime said and Robb nodded.

"I suppose you will," he agreed and they inclined their heads to one another before going their separate ways.

Robb went for the stairs at once, his mind concentrating on nothing but finding his way safely back to his and Amy's chambers. The Rock was far too big, it was no wonder Amy had worked out the layout of Winterfell in merely a few days when she had grown up in a maze like this. He hoped she would be in their rooms when he returned else he wouldn't have the faintest idea where to go to find her. They were empty when he finally found his way to them and he sighed heavily, thinking he would change and wash after working up a sweat in the tiltyard. By the time he was done with that he hoped that Amy might well have come back. He stripped off and headed for the washroom, splashing water on his face from the basin before contemplating the bath and wondering if he should call for water. Just then the sound of the door opening and closing reached his ears and he decided to leave it, he could have a bath before dinner. He pulled on the clean clothes then and went back out into the living area, frowning slightly when he saw no sign of Amy. "Amy?!" he called as he crossed the room to drop down on the sofa. "Just a minute!" she called back from the bed chamber and he smiled slightly as he relaxed back against the soft cushions.

"How did it go in the tiltyard?" she asked him when she emerged with a pile of towels and blankets in her arms.

"He beat me four times," he told her and she smiled as she stuffed the towels into a knapsack.

"My poor love," she said sympathetically, "I hope he didn't do any lasting damage."

"Nothing broken," he promised her, "he suggested I enter the hand-to-hand at the tourney."

"Really?" her eyes widened, "Do you think you will?"

"I don't know. What do you think?" he asked her.

"I think you're skilled indeed," she smiled, "but it's your decision, I only hope you won't get hurt."

"I can't promise that," he smiled slightly.

"No I suppose you can't," she agreed.

"What did you do in my absence?" he asked then.

"I spent some time with my mother," she told him.

"Did you ask her about your uncle?" he asked.

"No," she sighed rather heavily, "it didn't seem like the right time."

"There is time enough," he said gently.

"Yes," she agreed, her voice brightening, "but I don't want to think of that now. I want us to have an afternoon just for us."

"And what did you have in mind?" he asked, thinking he already knew the answer.

"We are going to the beach," she grinned at him, "and you are finally going to swim in the sea."

The steps down to the beach were a death trap in Robb's opinion and he insisted on going first and taking the knapsack from Amy. She had tried to protest but he was hearing none of it and now they were both gingerly making their way down the roughly cut steps to the sand below. "This better be worth it, my nerves are shredded," Robb said when he finally felt his boots touch sand rather than another uneven step. "I promise you it will be," Amy assured him, lacing her hand through his and tugging him along the beach. He smiled at her eagerness, happy to let her pull him along to wherever her heart desired. His eyes wandered his surroundings, seeing the almost white sands stretching down to the crystal blue waters edge and the large rocks and boulders that lay at the base of the cliffs. The Rock looked down on them, just as imposing from down here as it had been on the approach on level ground. It truly was a monstrous fortress and Robb understood well enough now why he had always been taught that it was impregnable.

"Here's a good spot," Amy pulled his eyes back to her then as they came to a halt. "Don't you think?"

"Whatever you think is best," he smiled and she beamed at him, sliding the knapsack away from him and setting it down on the sand. She knelt down in the next moment and pulled out the blanket, straightening up to unfurl it in the light breeze. Despite the breeze the sun was still intensely hot on the back of Robb's neck and he moved his hands to loosen the ties of his doublet. "You're keen," Amy eyed him then and he rolled his eyes at her. "I'm hot," he returned and she smiled as she settled down on the blanket and kicked off her shoes. "The seamstress has promised your lighter clothing will be ready by tomorrow," she assured him then as he shrugged out of his doublet and settled down next to her. "Thank you," he said.

"It's no matter," she smiled, "she is doing all the hard work, you ought to thank her."

"I will," he replied.

"How do you like the view from here?" she asked him.

"It's different from up there," he nodded behind him, towards the Rock, "but beautiful just the same."

"How about a swim?" she asked him, "It will cool you off …" she persuaded.

"Very well, I know you're determined to get me in there," he huffed, reaching out to unlace his boots.

"Only because I know how much you'll love it," she returned, jumping up to her feet and unlacing her dress swiftly. It dropped down next to Robb in the next moment as he tugged his boots of his feet, his fingers coming to loosen his shirt before he tugged it up over his head. He looked towards Amy then and saw she was almost at the water's edge, her thin shift rippling slightly in the wind. She was padding into the water as he rose to his own feet and she was up to her knees in it by the time he reached the edge. "Come on!" she encouraged him, walking further into the water, only turning back to him when she was up to her waist. Robb took a tentative step then and almost flinched; "it's cold!" he protested and she started a fit of giggles at once.

"Coming from the man with ice in his veins?!" she said incredulously when she stopped laughing; "For shame Robb Stark!"

He narrowed his eyes at her then and took a few more steps into the water, feeling his feet numb after a moment. Amy was even further out when he looked towards her again and he forced himself up to his knees and then onwards. When he looked for her again when he was up to his waist she was nowhere to be seen and his heart seemingly stopped beating in his chest. In the next second it began thudding again as her head bobbed out of the water to send a beaming smile his way. "Come on, it's wonderful once you get used to it!" she promised him and again he forced himself forwards, the water coming up to his chest now. "Dunk your head under and all will be well," she said and he looked at her sceptically. "Come on!" she encouraged again and he shook his head, taking a deep breath before he plunged under the water. It was so cold but oddly refreshing at the same time and he pushed his arms out, swimming further towards where he knew Amy was before he bobbed back up to the surface.

"Well?" she asked as she tread water a few feet away from him.

"I prefer the hot springs," he told her and she laughed heartily.

"Give it a chance," she implored him, moving gracefully in the water so she could lay on her back on the surface of the sea.

Robb watched her for a few moments before he decided to do as she has encouraged him to do and kicked off from the bottom to swim in a large circle around her. She was right, he supposed, once he got used to the temperature of the water it did feel rather refreshing, the perfect contrast to the hot sun beating down on them. He could just about understand why she missed the sea so much when she was landlocked at Winterfell. "You know there's a lake at Torrhen's Square," he told her as he began his third circle around her, "I imagine you'd find that just delightful to swim in."

"Are you jesting with me Robb?" she asked him lazily and he couldn't help but grin as he eyed her floating so effortlessly on the gentle waves.

"When winter comes it will freeze over," he told her.

"And winter is coming," she said drily and he chuckled.

"Good to hear you've learned something from your time in the North," he said lightly.

She moved again in the water then, turning onto her stomach and swimming a short way towards the shore. He followed after her, only stopping when she did, noting that he could touch the bottom again with his feet and so he stood up, the water reaching just to his waist now. She did the same, coming closer towards him and reaching her hand out to touch his chest just above his heart. His eyes met hers then and he swallowed hard, wondering if he dared. What if someone caught them? He cast his eyes back towards the beach and saw it deserted. He moved them back to Amy then and she raised her brow carefully. Again he moved his eyes back to the beach, training them on the base of the steps and following them all the way back up the cliff. As far as he could tell there was no one descending them. That was good enough for him to step closer to Amy and place his hands on her waist which was just below the surface of the water.

Her own hands came to roam his chest as their heads tilted almost lazily towards one another, their lips finally coming to meet in a deep, slow kiss that had Robb tasting the salt of the sea in his mouth. He pulled her right up against him then, his lips continuing to bruise hers as he turned her body slightly so he could encourage her to step back towards the shore. When they reached the shallows she halted his progress, her own hands encouraging him to turn around now and he did as she wanted. Her hands came to his shoulders then to press down and again he did what she wanted, breaking their kiss and slowly sinking down to his knees. She mirrored his movement, edging closer to him and he moved backwards so he could seat himself down in the shallows, the water lapping around him as Amy came closer; her thin shift almost completely transparent as she crawled onto his lap. "Do you not want to go back to the beach?" he asked her breathlessly as she came to straddle him, her hands trailing down his chest and sneaking under his breeches. "No," she shook her head, her lips only an inch from his, "sand gets everywhere, and besides … I want you right now."

He didn't argue, his hands seeking her breasts as hers re-emerged from his breeches and began to unlace him. The buds of her breasts were hardened, from the cold of the water or from his touch he didn't know. Nor did he care. All he knew was that he wanted his mouth on them and so he moved his hands to slide the straps of her shift down her arms to bare them to him. He let his mouth enclose one of her buds then and her back arched into him, a moan leaving her mouth. Amy was desperate for him then, his hot mouth working deliciously at her breast. She let her fingers trace up and down his length which was rock hard under her touch before she moved her own hands to tug up her shift, lifting herself up slightly and moving closer to him. His mouth left her breast at her movement, his hands sneaking under her soaking wet shift to land on her bare hips as she lowered herself slowly down onto his length.

Then met one another's eyes then as Amy slowly began to rock her hips back and forth in perfect timing with the waves that were lapping against the shore. The whole thing felt so sensual and so incredible to Robb as they held one another's gaze fast, her movement not speeding up as it usually would as she kept herself in time with the water. Robb couldn't look away from her eyes and he imagined she must be feeling the same as her own never flickered from his. Amy bit down on her lip to stifle a moan as she continued on, rocking her hips firmly into Robb's to make sure she took all of him in each time she moved. Gods it felt so good. It felt the most intense it had ever been between them. So intense that it was almost terrifying but still she could not look away from the perfect blue of his eyes as a groan left his own mouth, his fingers clenching slightly around her hips.

Robb wasn't sure how much longer he could hold on, Amy's perfection was dragging him closer and closer to the end but he could never leave her unsatisfied. He sought out that little bud between her legs then and began circling it just as slowly as she was rocking into him. A whimper left her mouth then and something in her eyes changed just the slightest bit as he kept his own on hers. A real, throaty moan came from her in the next moment, that little crease of sweet agony creasing across her brow as it always did when she got close to the edge. Her hands came to cup his face then as he felt her tightening unbearably around him, her breathing ragged against his lips as she gasped and moaned out his name, her eyes still on his. "I love you," she panted out as she rocked all the way onto him again, squeezing him tight to his own end. "I love you," she repeated as he moved his own hands up to cup her face the way hers were cupping his. "I love you," he returned, his own breathing laboured as he continued gazing into her beautiful eyes.

Jaime was on edge as they all sat down around the dinner table. Gods he hoped Tyrion wouldn't get drunk again. Amy's homecoming was supposed to be perfect but already he knew his daughter was worried about her uncle. She hadn't voiced anything yet and he knew she wouldn't around the dinner table but he imagined if it happened again then there would be questions. His father wasn't helping matters. He had been irritated enough that he had mentioned Amy's not being with child to him, but it had infuriated him to find out his father had then gone to Lanette. Lanette had spoken with Amy and it seemed as though nothing was amiss, that it wasn't lack of trying that had left her without a child so far. Jaime had clenched his fists hard at that and Lanette had obviously noticed because she had changed the subject rather quickly. He narrowed his eyes slightly as the servants placed the wine down in the middle of the table, his eyes seeking Tyrion's and sending him a warning look.

"That is the Northern wine if you'd prefer Stark," his father addressed Robb then, indicating the one of the flagons; "the other is from the Arbor."

"Thank you my Lord," Robb said politely and Jaime saw his father nod slightly, his gaze lingering on Robb and Amy for a moment before he reached out for the Northern wine himself.

"Did Amy show you around much today Robb?" Lanette asked from his side then.

"We got as far as the beach," Robb said, "I couldn't seem to prise her away."

"We never could either," Lanette smiled at him and he returned it before reaching out for the wine flagon that had just been replaced back in the centre of the table.

"I have to make the most of it since we will only be here a few weeks," Amy said by way of explanation and Jaime saw her roll her eyes at her husband, the sight making him smile slightly.

"Did you enjoy the beach?" Tyrion asked Robb, "It always greatly amused Amy that you had never been to the coast before."

"Well it greatly amuses me that she has never seen snow," Robb said and even Jaime's father managed a smile; "but yes, I did enjoy the beach … I enjoyed it immensely."

He and Amy shared a knowing smile with one another then and Jaime couldn't help but narrow his eyes again, his hand clenching on the table top. Lanette lay her own hand atop his in the next moment and Jaime found himself relaxing but still irritated, reaching out to pour a measure of wine into his own glass. "Would you like some my love?" he asked his wife then and she smiled at him. "Please," she said in response and he moved to fill her glass. "Amy?" he asked when hers was full; "Or do you only drink Northern wine now?"

"No," she said almost forcefully, "I mean … Arbor would be lovely."

"Pass me your glass," Jaime reached out for it as she handed it over to him.

"Thank you," she smiled widely at him when he returned it full after a moment.

"Slow down," Jaime chuckled slightly as she took a long gulp before setting it down.

"Sorry," she said sheepishly, "I haven't tasted that since the wedding."

"A whole year," her grandfather chuckled, "you poor girl … I'll make sure some is sent back with you."

"You don't have to do that," Amy shook her head, "Northern wine is perfectly lovely."

"So lovely you grimace every time you take your first sip?" Robb asked in amusement.

"I do not," she protested, frowning up at him.

"Yes you do," Robb nodded.

"I'll have three casks brought up for you," her grandfather said then, his own eyes dancing with mirth.

"Thank you," Amy said in a slightly defeated tone.

"Now," her grandfather stood up at the head of the table then and they all turned their attention to him; "before the food arrives I have an announcement. We will be entertaining a few more guests than we anticipated at Tyrion's wedding and the following tourney. Royal guests to be specific."

"Royal guests?" Jaime repeated, feeling Lanette stiffen at his side.

"The King and Queen," his father smiled widely, "and their three children, and whoever is chosen to attend from the court."

"I thought they'd declined the invitation," Jaime said in a slightly dazed manner.

"You know Robert," his father waved his hand dismissively before he sat himself back down again; "he can never resist a good tourney."

A/N: Oh yes ... she's coming back ... more soon!

:)