A/N: Okay, new chapter for everyone! It may be a while before I update again because I'm away with work tomorrow and unsure about the wifi situation. I will be sure to update if I can, but if not, it will be as soon as I get back - promise! I may also have a new story to post when I'm back but I'll let you know more about that if it happens. Anyway, for now, hope you enjoy the new chapter!

Guest: You're very welcome, that is coming right up - I hope you like it!

unnamed visitor: Thank you so much, you may have to wait a little while for the reaction to Lana's pregnancy as she's keen to keep it quiet for now. However, Ned's confession is coming up this chapter so I hope you enjoy that. I know, Robb and Amy really need a talk and both of them will be able to reassure the other - first part of the next chapter is Amy's POV so that may just happen... This is the update before I leave, hopefully I can update whilst away but if not it will be as soon as I get back. Thank you, I did have a nice time away, it's just unfortunate I have to leave again for work so soon afterwards!

Boramir: Thanks very much! Yep, Renly is on thin ice, even if he can't see it coming, his safety relies on the familial feelings Steffon has for him, and they seem to be wearing out. The Capitol just need to hope that the Tyrells see sense and send Margaery to them, at this point they can't really refuse as Renly hasn't launched his rebellion just yet. Time will tell! Glad you think the story is getting better and better, hopefully it continues to do so! Also, you partly inspired the idea that the Tyrells pay Karenza's dowry so thanks for the inspiration with the gold! I'm hoping Karenza can breech some of the gap, but I can't imagine Dorne being quite as accepting as the Starks were.

Right-ho folks, onwards and enjoy!

:)

Knowing

Amy tucked Aedan back into his cradle, his eyes already closed in sleep as she made sure he was secure in his blankets. His hands were free as ever, he would not tolerate them being tucked away as he always slept with his arms thrown firmly above his head. She watched him for a moment longer, listening to his deep, even breaths before she padded back towards the bed. It was deliciously warm when she slipped back beneath the covers, unable to stop herself moving closer to Robb and pressing her body against his. He was always so perfectly warm and there had been a chill about when she had got up to feed Aedan that Robb would no doubt melt away from her in mere moments.

He stirred in his sleep, opening his eyes with a shuddering breath in the next moment. "Gods, your feet are like ice," he hissed and she couldn't help but smile, shifting even closer to him and laying her head down against his chest. "I'm sorry," she whispered and his arms came about her at once, his hands lovely and warm on her back through the thin silk of her nightdress. "Did he wake again?" Robb asked after a moment and she nodded against him, biting down on her lip for a moment before she lifted her head up so she could look at her husband through the semi-darkness. "He's asleep now," she told him and he smiled sleepily. "And yet here we are awake," he said and she wondered if she was imagining the desire in his voice.

"Robb?" she said tentatively, her fingers coming to absently swirl patterns in the hair on his chest. "Hmm?" he murmured in reply, his eyes closing and a satisfied sigh leaving his lips at her touch which gave her the confidence to speak her next words. "Do you still desire me?" she asked him nervously and his eyes flew open at once. "What?" he returned almost disbelievingly. "Do you still -?" she started but before she could repeat her question he had flipped them over so she was laying beneath him and pressed his lips to hers. "I desire you more than ever," he growled against her lips when he pulled away and a shudder of want rippled through her body; "please tell me you didn't think otherwise."

"I've changed so much with Aedan…I thought you might think of me differently," she confessed in a whisper and he shook his head, his eyes disbelieving as he pulled back further to meet her gaze. "I thought it was me," he said and she frowned at him; "I thought I had done something…I thought you felt differently about me, that you didn't want me anymore." She wanted to laugh at his confession, unable to believe how foolish they both were. Her mother was right, she should have spoken to Robb long ago and all of this could have been avoided. "How could I?" she asked him, a slight laugh leaving her mouth that had him smiling widely down on her. "I don't know," he chuckled slightly himself and she bit down on her lip and wound her arms securely around his neck to pull him down into another kiss.

He came willingly, coaxing her own lips to part so their tongues could meet in a slow dance. She felt herself melting in a way she hadn't in so long, her pounding heart reminding her with every beat that Robb still wanted her. "I don't know how you could ever think that I don't want you," he murmured against her skin as he trailed his lips away across her cheek and down her neck. "You thought the same," she reminded him and he nipped at her skin lightly in response, a gasp leaving her and her back arching up involuntarily against him. "Well, now we both know better…does that mean we can be rid of this ridiculous nightdress?" he asked, lust dripping from every word and making her giggle as he pulled back and moved his hand to the ties.

"I rather like my nightdress," she said in a falsely scandalized tone and he grinned wolfishly at her through the dim light. "It is a waste of silk," he returned as he pulled easily on the ties to undo them, both his hands trailing down her sides to pull the material down her body. She swallowed hard, hoping that the look of want in his eyes wouldn't fade as he revealed more and more of her body to him. It didn't and she allowed a breath of relief, lifting herself off the bed so he could slide it over her hips and bottom. He slid beneath the covers then, kissing down the skin he had exposed, his hands resting on her hips as he moved down lower and lower. He pushed her legs together and lifted them up over his shoulders so she could kick her nightdress away, another giggle leaving her as she did so.

His touch left her for a moment then and she frowned slightly before she realised that he was ridding himself of his breeches. It was mere moments before his hands were back on her bare skin, easing her thighs apart as he crawled back up her body, his head dipping to smother kisses all the way up the valley of her breasts. A soft moan left her as he latched back onto her neck, his body pressing more firmly between her legs. In response she wrapped them up around his waist, feeling his arousal pressed against her inner thigh as she arched her back into him to encourage him closer, her nails raking softly down his back. "Gods, I've missed you," he breathed against her neck as he shifted his hips so he could slip inside her.

Amy let out a sigh of satisfaction as he sank down completely into her, his head lifting from her neck as he did so, his gaze finding hers. "Are you alright?" he whispered and she nodded her head, her hands coming from his back to cup his cheeks and encourage him to kiss her again. He did so at once, his hips rocking slowly back and forth as their lips met in a slow kiss that only served to heighten the desire she had for him. Gods, it had been so long. Too long. It was hard to keep kissing Robb as she raised her own hips to meet his torturously slow pace, her breath was coming sharply, catching in her throat as he pushed her thighs up higher and touched that perfect place inside her. She had to bite down on her bottom lip to stifle a cry, not wanting to wake Aedan as Robb smothered every inch of her face in kisses.

"I love you so much," his whisper fluttered against her forehead which she knew was creased in anticipation as she panted out, her head beginning to spin. She would utter the words back to Robb if she felt she could speak, her stomach clenching so tightly now that she knew it would be mere moments before her release came. Robb must have sensed it as his hand slipped down her side and made its way between them, his thumb seeking out that bud that drove her almost wild. Her hips bucked of their own accord as he touched it, circling around and causing her to throw her arm up to drape across her mouth to stifle her cries of pleasure. Her stomach tightened unbearably and her head swam dizzily before the pressure released, her stomach uncoiling and all her muscles relaxing as her arched back sank back down into the bed.

Robb continued rocking into her slowly, only serving to heighten her pleasure before his own end came for him, his head burying in the crook of her neck where he stifled his final groan. They lay there like that for the longest time, clutching one another close and breathing hard into the faint light of morning as they came down from the dizzying heights. Amy's body was still trembling slightly, every inch of her tingling deliciously, when Robb finally pulled away from her so they became separate entities again. He pressed a kiss to her forehead before he flopped down onto his back, his chest glistening with sweat as it rose and fell quickly. Amy rolled onto her side and pressed herself to him, her hand placed above his heart as she pressed a kiss to his chest. "I love you too," she whispered against his skin before she lay her head down against him and let the steady thud of his heartbeat send her back to sleep.

Catelyn was in the Sept when Ned found her, his uncertain voice pulling her from her prayers as she turned her head to see him stood sheepishly near the door. "You look as uncomfortable as I feel in the Godswood," she smiled at him and his lips twitched up slightly. "Would you walk with me?" he asked her slightly awkwardly and she nodded her head before rising back up to her feet. She approached him, taking the arm he offered without a word as he led them out of the door and down the steps of the Sept. Still he said nothing as they crossed the courtyard and she didn't utter any words of her own, somehow knowing that her husband was thinking hard. She imagined that some news may have come from the Capitol that had been unfavourable, or perhaps that the ships containing dragonglass had arrived at White Harbour.

Whatever it was she knew that Ned would tell her in his own time. Through the gardens they went, passed all the flower beds and between the apple trees that stood outside the glass gardens. It was there that they came to a halt, Ned pulling open the glass door and gesturing her to go inside. She frowned slightly but made no comment as she stepped inside, feeling him follow her inside and hearing the door close behind her. "I didn't want us to be disturbed," he murmured and she nodded her understanding, moving further into the warmth of the glass gardens until she came upon the single bench that resided within them. She settled herself down before looking towards Ned expectantly, seeing a rather odd look in his eyes. Regret?

She frowned and he visibly took a deep breath, his hands wringing together. "Ned, what is it?" she finally spoke, "You're starting to worry me." He seemed uncertain of what to do with himself, taking a tiny step as though he would sit with her before thinking better of it and twisting his hands together some more before he moved them to swing at his sides. "When we got married," he started stiffly and she held her breath; "I know that…I know that I wasn't the husband you expected. I know you wanted to marry Brandon…"

"Ned -," she began, wanting to explain. To reassure him that it was him she loved, that her infatuation with Brandon had been a fantasy, something she had wanted because she had been supposed to want it. "Cat don't," he shook his head, "don't deny it…I know it…but I need you to know that that's the reason why. The only reason why I never told you. To protect you, to keep your memory of him intact. I never wanted to spoil that for you, and you would have been angry with me either way…"

"Ned, you're not making any sense to me," she said, shaking her head, her eyes wide as she watched an agonised expression cross his face. "Once I said it I couldn't take it back," he went on desperately, "and I wanted to tell you every day but I couldn't, especially once we were back here and you started to forgive me, as we watched Robb grow. I wanted to Cat, Gods I wanted to more than anything but then…then you told me about Sansa and I…I couldn't bear to ruin our happiness. You told me you loved me and it was the most wonderful thing I ever heard, how could I tell you then? I was selfish, I suppose…keeping you in ignorance was easier than running the risk of you hating me."

"Ned -," she started again, a rising sense of panic rising up inside her for unknown reasons. Still she didn't know what Ned was talking about but she instinctively knew she didn't like it. Don't tell me, she wanted to say, keep me in blissful ignorance, don't tell me. The words wouldn't come though and Ned finally seemed to have summoned his courage, his eyes meeting hers and screaming for forgiveness. "He's Brandon's," he whispered, "Jon is Brandon's son, not mine."

The words said so quietly resounded like a screaming echo in Catelyn's mind. Each repetition in her head screaming out more loudly than the last. Her hand clasped to her mouth as a gasp somewhere between disbelief and horror left her. "Why?" she managed to choke out that one word, her eyes wide as they fixed on Ned. "To spare you…Gods I'm a fool, I haven't spared you at all, have I? I realised the other night, when Jon came back and you said…" he tailed off, shaking his head, his expression mournful as he gazed down on her. "His mother?" the next two words she managed came out in a rather strangled voice that she barely recognised.

"Ashara Dayne," he replied, his eyes finding the floor. "Of course," she said faintly, she'd heard the whispers. How the maids at Riverrun had known she didn't know but she had heard them through her tears for her betrothed. She looked up at Ned. Her husband. The father of her children. The man she loved. The man who hadn't betrayed her after all, at least not in the way she had assumed. The way he had told her. Somewhere inside she understood, especially when she saw the vulnerability in his eyes. Mostly though she was angry. Angry for herself, and angry for Jon. She could have been better had she known. It would have been easier, far easier, to raise Brandon's son than it had been to contemplate raising Ned's.

"You utter fool," she said, rising up to her feet and Ned took a step back. "I'm sorry Cat," he said, meeting her eyes, "I will never be able to say it enough times, but I am. I'm sorry. I only did it because I thought it would spare you, because I knew I could never hope to deserve you and because I thought there was no chance that you would ever love me."

"You fool," she repeated, shaking her head; "you stupid, stupid fool Ned, damn it, damn it all why? Gods, why, why, why would you do this?!" the tears she'd been holding at bay seemed to rush from her now and she staggered forwards, Ned's arms waiting there to catch her and hold her tightly. Here in his arms she had always felt safe, even all those years ago when they had been thrust together and made to marry in haste. Even that first night before he had left her to ride to war. He had been so gentle and so hesitant. Neither of them had truly known what they were doing but they had worked it out together through their fear and afterwards he had held her, and she had felt safe. How could he not know that? How could he have ridden away thinking that she still pined for his brother? The tears she had shed on his departure had all been for him, all of them.

"I want so badly to hate you Ned Stark," she spat out, her hands balling into fists against his chest as he held her tighter; "but I can't…I never could, not even when you presented that boy to me and named him as your own. You stupid, stupid man…how could you be so foolish?" she pulled back from him and looked up to see the immense sorrow in his eyes. "I could never punish you as much as you've punished yourself," she said softly, raising her hand up to cup his cheek, his eyes registering faint surprise at her touch. "If you need me by your side when you tell Jon then I will be there, on your side," she swore to him and she saw the relief cross his features. "I thought you would never forgive me," he breathed out, nuzzling against her touch in an almost needy fashion. "I would have thought you would have learned by now Ned," she said shakily, thumbing at his cheek; "I would forgive you anything."

Robb couldn't keep the smile from his face as he walked towards the parlour where his father had summoned him. It had been a wonderful day, and not just because of his pleasurable wake up. Well, perhaps mostly because of his pleasurable wake up. He sighed in satisfaction as he remembered the blissful encounter with Amy, and how they had managed to make love again before Aedan had woken. After he had been fed Amy had brought him to their bed and lay him between them so they could both wonder over him and his gummy smile that he had begun to bestow. Gods he had never felt luckier. Everything was settling perfectly now and not even the threat of wildlings and winter could wipe the smile off his face today.

It did falter slightly however when he entered the parlour to see his father sat grim faced, his mother next to him looking rather strained as she sent a smile his way. "Has something happened?" Robb asked at once, "Word from the Capitol? Renly, or…" he tailed off as his mother shook her head, his moment of panic fading and a slight frown creasing his brow. "What then?" he asked and his mother sighed heavily. "Wait for Jon please," she said, the words only serving to deepen Robb's frown. He said nothing though, sitting himself down on one of the other sofas and determining to think of his smiling wife and son. The waiting silence was so awkward that Robb wished he had dawdled a little longer on his way here. Damn it. Gods he hoped Jon would hurry up.

He glanced sideways towards his parents and could practically feel the tension between them. Gods he hoped his mother had not come up with a way of removing Jon from Winterfell. She had taken it all in good grace so far that he was back and he had perhaps naively assumed that things might get better between them. Surely his mother wouldn't send Jon away? She may not have been comfortable with him always being here but she knew damn well what Jon meant to Robb and the others. She wouldn't. Robb was almost certain that she wouldn't. The door opened as he determined to believe that, a smile coming to his face as his brother let himself in with a rather apprehensive look in his eyes.

"You asked to see me?" Jon said uncertainly, his eyes dancing between their father and Robb. "Yes," to his surprise it was his mother who answered and Robb was even more surprised to see that she had a strained smile adorning her face. Something wasn't right. "There is something that your – that Lord Stark has to say to you," his mother went on and Robb frowned, seeing how his mother lay her hand on his father's knee and squeezed hard. Something definitely wasn't right. "This isn't going to be easy," his father finally spoke, moving his mother's hand from his knee and rising to his feet, looking between Robb and Jon. Robb was unsure whether he too should stand but he was glad he had remained seated when his father spoke his next words.

"I think it time you were told the truth Jon, about your mother," his father said and Robb swallowed hard, looking towards Jon whose eyes were wide and fixed intently on his father. "I told a lie," his father stuttered out, "a foolish lie that I could not take back no matter how much I wanted to, I -," he cut off, seemingly struggling with his emotions and Robb rose up to his feet, intending to lay a soothing hand on his father's arm. One look from his mother stilled him though and he kept his hands firmly by his sides. "I thought I'd done the right thing," his father went on, "but I was so wrong Jon and I can only hope that you can forgive me," he glanced at Robb; "that you can all forgive me."

"For what?" Robb whispered, a horrible feeling starting to churn in the pit of his stomach. "I was trying to spare your mother's feelings," his father said almost desperately, "but I know now from her own mouth that I made the wrong choice in claiming you Jon."

"What?!" Robb burst out, seeing the look of utter devastation that crossed Jon's face. "How can you say that?! He's my brother, we have grown up together and now you say you regret it! How can you regret bringing him home?! He's family!"

"Yes he is," his father agreed, "but not in the way I told you." Confusion replaced his anger now and his brow furrowed as he watched his father slowly approach Jon and lay his hands down on his shoulders. "I don't regret bringing you home," he said, "I only regret the manner I did it, and I regret that I kept the truth from you for so long."

"What is the truth?" Jon asked quietly and Robb's eyes darted to his mother as she too stood up, her eyes gazing at Jon with a softness he had never known her to possess for him. "I'm not your father Jon," his father said and Robb thought his eyes would fall from his head; "your parents are both gone, but I am your family…I'm your uncle and I am prouder than I can say that you called me father all these years."

"I don't understand…" Jon said slowly, voicing Robb's own thoughts on the matter. "My brother Brandon was your father," his father explained and Robb again looked to his mother; "he fathered you with Ashara Dayne at some tourney or other. Brandon was never shy about women, but he never knew about you…he was killed before he ever had the chance. Your mother…I believe she loved him, that's why she did what she did…after you were born."

"She killed herself," Jon whispered and Robb closed his eyes in despair, remembering all the old tales from the rebellion that old Nan used to tell them. He remembered the story of Ashara Dayne, of how she had thrown herself from a cliff to rid herself from the pain of losing her brother and her child being stillborn. "Why?" Robb asked before he could stop himself; "Why would she do that when she had Jon?"

"Jon is the very image of Brandon," it was his mother who answered, "I don't know why I never saw it before…" she looked utterly devastated but it was nothing to the look on Jon's face. "I am so sorry Jon," his father said, "can you understand? Can you understand why I would want to keep this from you, from all of you?" Jon nodded mutely and Robb searched his mind for something comforting to say but he was drawing a blank. "I always hoped I'd meet her one day," Jon said quietly and Robb saw his mother clasp a hand to her mouth; "I thought…I thought she'd put her arms around me…" Jon broke off and Robb knew he was fighting back his emotions. Before he could cross and offer his brother any comfort his mother had moved.

She hesitated slightly before she nudged his father out of the way slightly and shakily placed one of her own hands on Jon's shoulder. "I am so sorry…if I had known," she cut off, shaking her head and taking a deep breath; "there is no excuse for how I treated you, I'm sorry I wasn't better I just…I just couldn't Jon I'm sorry," her voice was quavering now; "if I had known…Gods I wish I could fix it Jon, I do. I wish I could fix it all."

They both broke down then and before Robb could blink Jon was in his mother's arms, clinging to her more tightly than he had ever seen anyone cling to anyone before. Sobs were coming from both of them and it struck him after a moment that he didn't know anymore who was comforting who. He looked at his father and saw the troubled look in his eyes, the sheer devastation that he was clearly trying to mask. Robb wanted so badly to be angry with him for keeping such a secret from them all but he couldn't find it in him when he saw how broken he looked. How defeated. Slowly he took a few steps forwards and lay his hand on his father's shoulder, their eyes meeting for a moment. Robb could see the gratitude in his father's eyes and he inclined his head slightly and managed a twitch of his lips which his father returned.

Their attention was pulled back to Jon and his mother in the next moment though as they finally seemed to be getting themselves under control, their embrace breaking. "Jon?" his father said tentatively, almost fearfully. "I wish you'd told me, I wish you'd told all of us," Jon glanced slightly regretfully towards Robb's mother; "but I think I understand…and I know it wasn't done out of malice. Can I have a moment? I think I'd like to visit the crypts…"

Jon tailed off and Robb knew well enough that he was likely going down to visit the effigy of Brandon Stark. "Of course," his father said shakily, hesitantly laying his hand on Jon's shoulder for a moment before he moved it away. Jon looked towards Robb almost apprehensively then before he nodded curtly and made for the door. "Jon wait!" Robb called to him as he pulled it open and Jon paused, looking back as Robb reached out to curl his hand around his upper arm; "You're still my brother, you know that, don't you?"

Jon nodded at that and Robb returned the gesture, managing a smile before he released Jon's arm and allowed him to step out through the door, it closing soundly behind him.

A/N: More reaction from Jon next time round, hopefully the wait won't be too long, thanks for your patience, I know I've likely been testing it lately but unfortunately it can't be helped!

:)