A/N: SORRY! I am finally back and there are no plans for me to go away again for so long at least until the end of the year. So, if any of you are still out there waiting for me, wait no longer - the new chapter is here! Hope you enjoy it. I have a day off from work today so I plan on using it to write some more for this story because I'm falling behind. I will most likely get another one up towards the end of the week!

unnamed visitor: Thank you so much, I'm glad you've enjoyed it! It will be a little while yet before Amy and Tywin are told, but I can tell you that Amy will be the first to know out of them. Yep, Robb and Amy are back in a good place, which is great for them. I'm glad you liked Ned's confession, things between Cat and Jon should be able to get better now, hopefully they can build something slowly. I couldn't think of a better way to end the chapter so I'm glad you liked it. Hope you enjoy this new one!

Guest: Thank you very much, I'm so glad you've enjoyed my stories. Sorry to keep you waiting on this chapter - hope it doesn't disappoint!

Guest: Thank you! I won't be getting into Jon's head but he'll be interacting with people in this chapter so you should gauge his reaction.

Helewise: I know, not a great situation. Ned really did get caught up in a lie that went too far for too long.

Boramir: Thank you! Yep, I think a lot of people need a lot of time alone and then those same people need a good talk! Interesting that you mentioned the succession, I'll be bringing that up in the near future!

Right-ho folks, on with the chapter, thanks for your patience!

:)

Targets

Amy loosed the arrow, her lips turning up into a smile as she hit dead target. She had been a bit shaky since returning to the boards and Theon had been teasing her mercilessly about it. This afternoon though she couldn't miss and she could almost feel him seething behind her. "You underestimated me," she said in a sing-song voice as she surveyed the arrows peppered into the centre of the target. "Perhaps you haven't lost your touch after all," he said grudgingly, "more's the pity."

"Oh, come on Theon," she turned to face him and raised her brows; "don't tell me you haven't missed me." She could see him fighting a smile, the corners of his lips twitching up slightly. "I suppose it does give me incentive to try harder," he finally conceded and she smiled widely at him. "Do your worst," she winked, gesturing to the boards. He made a frustrated noise and tugged the bow out of her hands before plucking an arrow from the bucket. Amy watched as he drew back the string and let the arrow fly gracefully through the air and into the centre of the board next to hers. "I only hope," he began, sliding out another arrow; "that your son has inherited Robb's appalling aim."

"Robb is not so bad," she said as he let another arrow fly into the centre. He rolled his eyes when he turned back to take another one from the bucket. "Please," he scoffed, "he can hit the inner rings on a good day." Amy tried not to smile at that, it was true that Robb wasn't the best marksman, not that she would ever agree with Theon on the matter. "Because you're so good with the sword?" she retorted as he drew back the string again. "I don't need to be, when I'm so good with the bow," he turned to wink at her as another arrow hit the centre of the board. "Well you might consider that Robb does not need to be as good with the bow, when he excels with the sword," she said pointedly and Theon shrugged.

"I suppose," he said, taking another arrow and notching it. Amy glanced about the tiltyard as she heard another thud hit the board. No doubt he had hit dead centre again. At least she would be able to claim a draw today at least, that ought to stop him crowing so much. "Although," Theon said as she spotted Jon walking hurriedly along the edges of the tiltyard; "it does very much depend on which sword you are referring to."

"Stop being vulgar Theon," she said distractedly, her eyes following Jon's progress as he made his way towards the crypts. "You know I taught him all he knows," Theon continued regardless and she sighed heavily. "Well perhaps the student became the master," she said, folding her arms. That wiped the smile from his face and he sent a scowl her way before notching another arrow. "Your tongue is almost as sharp as your aim," he muttered under his breath as he let the arrow fly. "I get that from my mother," she replied, her gaze drifting back to where Jon had been. He was nowhere in sight now and she imagined he must have entered the crypts.

"That's not the only thing you get from your mother," Theon said suggestively, his eyes lingering on her chest for a moment. She narrowed her eyes at that, approaching him as he turned back to aim at the boards once more. "Would you like to see them?" she whispered when she was right behind him and his hand fumbled on the sting. His arrow loosed and landed in one of the outer rings to which she burst into laughter at once. "Game over, Theon!" she grinned triumphantly and he cursed. "Crafty little Lannister," he glared at her, "that was completely unfair."

"You deserved it," she said, tossing her hair over her shoulder; "and you know it." He merely scowled again before stalking towards the boards and impatiently tugging out the arrows. Amy lingered a while longer, throwing a few more victorious smiles his way before she decided she had teased him enough for one day. She bid him farewell and he returned the words, albeit moodily. After that she set off towards the crypts. Ordinarily she would have gone right back to the keep to see Aedan, but doubtless he was still napping with his nurse. It was tempting to go back anyway, to see if Robb was done with his duties for the day so they might spend some quality time together. Amy couldn't help but smile as she thought about the morning they had had. It had been perfect, and she was reassured beyond any doubt that he still wanted her.

As much as she would like to make up for lost time though, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was something wrong with Jon. He had a lot of thinking to do and many decisions to make, but even during this uncertainty he always had a smile and a cheery greeting. He hadn't even looked in her direction when he had crossed the tiltyard, his head bowed and his steps brisk. Something wasn't right, she was almost sure of it. Her footsteps faltered when she reached the entrance to the crypts and she swallowed hard. Only once had she been down here, and she had made Robb go with her as she searched for Rickon and Arya during a game of hide and seek. They hadn't been down there in the end and Amy had been most glad to leave the eerie, echoing place behind.

Taking a deep breath she stepped through the entrance, the flickering flames of the torches on the walls casting flickering shadows across the stone walls. She shuddered before determining to pull herself together, taking the steps down into the crypts carefully. Even with the torch brackets it was still difficult to see in such a deep darkness. She didn't like this, the dark and the damp. It may be a Stark tradition for the Lords of Winterfell to be buried down here but she much preferred her own family's vault at the Rock. The thought of Robb down here…she shuddered, she didn't even want to think about such a thing. When she reached the bottom of the steps she walked determinedly down the long passageway, determined not to let her eyes linger on any of the effigies.

It wasn't until she came to Robb's great-great grandfather that she could make out the figure knelt down on the floor of the crypt. She swallowed hard, suddenly wondering if she ought not to be here. It was too late though, Jon had clearly heard her footsteps and she could see in the dancing torchlight that tears were streaming down his face. All thoughts of apologies flew from her mind and she crossed the gap between them and knelt down in front of him. "Jon, what is it?" she asked him in a whisper that carried in the cavernous space. He shook his head, a choked sob escaping him that had her wrapping her arms around him in an instant. "It's all been such a lie Amy," he spluttered out, his hands clenching tightly in the silk of her dress; "such a lie…"

He went on, choking out words she could barely understand as she hushed and soothed him as best she could, rubbing up and down his back the way she did with Aedan when he wouldn't settle. She heard enough in the end, enough to begin piecing together everything. Gods. She had thought her family were bad, at least she had the luxury of knowing who they were. "I know it wouldn't have changed what happened to them," Jon whispered when he had finally calmed down; "but it could have changed the life I had…Lady Stark might have been able to…to…" he broke down again and Amy could do nothing but hold him and hush him, not knowing if either action were helping him. "I wish I knew what to say," she murmured and he sobbed even harder, his tears now soaking through her dress. "I can't let them see Amy," he choked, "I can't let them see."

"Hush now, no one can see," she promised, stroking her hand through his hair; "no one can see, it's just you and me here Jon." He began to calm again at that and she took a breath of relief. "Thank you," he murmured against her shoulder. "There's no need to say anything, I'm still your family Jon…just like everyone else," she told him quietly, "and I can't imagine how you're feeling right now but you can't lose sight of the people who love you. It was foolish indeed for Lord Stark to do what he did, but it cannot be changed, and he is still your kin." Jon nodded against her shoulder then, pulling away slightly to wipe his eyes. She averted her own, sensing his shame, and she didn't look back again until he spoke. "Thank you," he said again, meeting her eyes, and she nodded. "Perhaps we ought to go back to the keep, doubtless they will be worried," she said hopefully and to her relief he nodded, rising up to his feet before offering a hand to help her to her own.

"Theon, have you seen Amy?!" Robb called out across the tiltyard as Theon moved the buckets of arrows back under the awning of the armoury. "She cheated at archery, mocked me for a while and then disappeared," Theon told him and Robb blinked stupidly. "How could she cheat at archery?" he asked, despite it being the least important thing in the world. "Lannister," Theon said simply and Robb snorted, his eyes roving about the place, looking for any sign of her. He needed her comforting embrace right now. He needed her to hold him and tell him everything would be alright. To promise that his family wouldn't fall apart now that the truth about Jon had come out. Gods he wanted to be angry with his father. It was impossible though. When he had left him and his mother alone he had seen the look in his eyes as his mother tried to comfort him. He had looked utterly broken.

Movement by the crypts caught his eye and his heart clenched. Likely it would be Jon emerging, and Robb didn't even know what to say to him right now. He didn't know what the right words were, if he should say any words at all or if he should just pretend like none of it had happened. This afternoon he had lost a brother and gained a cousin and his head had not stopped spinning. What he had said to Jon was true, he was still his brother in his heart. But in his head…that was a different matter entirely. Jon did indeed emerge from the crypts and Robb swallowed hard. Before he could think about hailing him though, Amy emerged behind him. Robb watched as she placed her hand on Jon's upper arm, her eyes steady on his as she said something. Jon was nodding as though in agreement and Robb prayed to the Gods that she had been able to find the words that he knew he himself never would.

Amy always knew just what to say, it was one of the thousands of reasons he had for loving her. Her gaze drifted to him then and he furrowed his brow slightly and moved his head to one side. She kept her eyes on his and inclined her own head slightly, sending him a tiny smile. From her gesture he imagined that she had managed to make some headway. He felt guilty that she had had to find out on her own, but also relieved that he didn't have to tell her. Hearing the words in his head sounded bad enough, he couldn't even imagine how he would ever manage to utter them out loud. Amy turned her attention back to Jon as he watched her and in the next moment he was looking towards him, his eyes uncertain. Robb didn't want to see that.

Without a word he crossed hurriedly across the courtyard and Jon took a few steps of his own towards him. Jon looked like he would say something but Robb wasn't sure he wanted to hear it. Before he could speak Robb grabbed him in a fierce embrace and Jon gripped him back in the next second, just as tightly. "I know everything has changed for you," Robb murmured, "but not between us." If anything Jon gripped him even harder at that. "Brothers, always," Jon said, his voice quiet but determined and Robb nodded his head. "Always," he agreed, holding onto him a moment more before they released one another and stepped back. "I have to go back in," Jon said, meeting his eyes fleetingly; "I have to see Lord Stark."

"Would you like me to come?" Robb asked him but he shook his head. "No," he confirmed, "I think I need to be with him alone for a while." Robb nodded his agreement, secretly relieved that Jon didn't want him there. Truthfully he thought it might be better for them to speak alone, to get everything out in the open and hopefully clear the air. "You know where we are, if you need us," Amy piped up as Jon turned to leave and he met her eyes for a moment, a ghost of a smile on his lips as he nodded to her. "Are you alright?" Amy asked as soon as Jon had retreated from earshot, his head nodding automatically. "No you're not," she said knowingly, her hand coming to rub up and down his upper arm. "Do you want to talk about it?" she asked and he shook his head. "I don't know what I want," he confessed after a moment and she stepped forward to wrap her arms around his waist.

"Why don't we start by going inside?" she asked him, leaning back slightly so she could look up to meet his eyes. "We can go up to the nursery and spend some time with our son, doubtless he will be awake by now," she smiled, and he couldn't help but return it. "You always know what to do," he praised her and her smile widened. "We can talk whenever you're ready," she promised him, stepping out of his arms and grasping his hand, lacing her fingers firmly with his. "Thank you," he murmured quietly and she squeezed his hand tightly as they made their way across the tiltyard. "Is Theon still in a mood?" she asked him. He knew she was trying to change the subject and he was grateful for it. "He claims you cheated," he said and she snorted.

"I did no such thing," she said and Robb smiled slightly, swinging their entwined hands a little as they walked through the alleyway into the main courtyard. "What did you do?" he asked her knowingly. "I took advantage of his weakness," she said innocently and he rolled his eyes, looking down at her. Her eyes met his before she let them dip towards her chest, a slight smirk playing about her lips. "I'm not sure how I feel about my wife parading her assets to win at archery," he said as they reached the steps, unable to keep the trace of humour from his tone. "It's not my fault Theon has a vivid imagination," she said and he snorted. "You're a bad woman," he told her with a light chuckle as they entered the hall. "I thought that was how you liked me?" she said slyly and he barked out another laugh as she twisted herself in front of him and bit down on her bottom lip.

"I thought we were going to the nursery," he said pointedly as she continued to back towards the stairs. "We are," she said, a slightly confused look in her eyes. "Then best you remember that wife," he growled, nipping at her waist. "Because the way you are carrying on anyone would think you were attempting to lure me to the bedchamber," he finished with a raised brow and she giggled at him. "Perhaps Theon is not the only one with a vivid imagination," she said brightly as she turned to face the front again before making her way up the stairs, her hips swaying almost hypnotically. Part of him thought that she might well lead them to their bedchamber but it was through the door of the nursery she went, sending a happy greeting to Aedan's nurse that Robb endeavoured to emulate.

"How has he been?" Amy practically cooed as she approached their son's cradle, and Robb couldn't help but smile. "He has woken not five minutes passed my lady, doubtless he will be demanding milk soon enough," his nurse reported and Amy smiled at her. "Well, I think I can manage to oblige him," she said, bending down to scoop him up into her arms. Robb loved watching her with their son, seeing the devotion and adoration shining in her eyes when she set them on him. "Perhaps he can snuggle with his papa before the grumbles come," she beamed down on him and Aedan gurgled happily in response to her. Robb approached them at that, carefully easing their baby into his arms. The weight of him always felt so wonderful, increasing ever so slightly almost every day. The Maester was happy indeed with him, having declared him to be thriving not two days ago.

Aedan's eyes were bright as they gazed up at him, his mouth breaking out into a gummy smile that Robb still wondered at seeing. It seemed that every day he did something new, something else for him and Amy to coo and fuss over. He loved being a father. Never before had he imagined the utter joy that it would bring him. It was something he had wanted, but he hadn't really known why. Now though, as he stood gazing down at his baby boy, now he understood perfectly why he had wanted it. Why Amy had wanted it so badly. He looked up to her, seeing her already gazing at him with a concerned expression on her face. It was only then he realised that tears had slid down his cheeks. "It will be alright," she whispered to him, stepping closer and brushing the tears gently away. "I promise," she cupped his cheek and met his eyes; "it will all be alright in the end."

"Margaery Tyrell will arrive within the week," Tywin addressed Steffon, who was leaning over the map and poking a few of the pieces around. His grandson hummed his agreement in a rather distracted manner, his eyes roving around the map. "I have also heard some rather interesting rumours from the east," Tywin continued, and this time Steffon raised his eyes to his, his attention caught now. "What rumours?" Steffon asked him, a slight frown on his face. "Talk of dragons," Tywin told him, "and of the last Targaryen, marching through the slave cities – conquering them one by one."

"Are they true?" Steffon asked him and Tywin sighed. "Probably," he said, "about the slave cities at least. Dragons though…that is another matter entirely." Steffon nodded at that, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Can she threaten me?" he finally asked and Tywin smiled slightly. "She has not the men," he answered his grandson, and again he nodded. "But…dragons?" Steffon asked.

"Have you seen the skulls of the last dragons?" he asked in return and Steffon nodded. "Then you will know that they were barely the size of a dog, those Stark direwolves could polish them off with ease. Dragons are no threat to us," Tywin assured him and again he nodded. "But this Targaryen girl, she could threaten me, could she not?" he asked and Tywin considered him for a moment before answering. "You would be best concerning yourself with Renly, and with the threat beyond the Wall," Tywin advised him, "do not trouble yourself with this girl, if she were to attempt to cross the Narrow Sea then she would be beaten back by Stannis' ships before she could dock."

"As you say grandfather," Steffon seemed placated and Tywin moved to pour them both some wine. "I have drafted the demand to Renly to relinquish his hold on Storm's End," he said lightly as he poured the rich red. "Would you care to see it?" he enquired as he turned to offer Steffon one of the glasses. "I suppose I ought to," his grandson said rather stiffly. Tywin didn't comment on it, instead moving to his desk and slipping a piece of parchment from one of the drawers. He handed it to Steffon without a word, watching his grandson take in every line as he sipped on his wine.

"Perfect," Steffon said with a slight grimace when he came to the end. "You can send it as soon as Margaery Tyrell arrives," he continued and Tywin inclined his head, taking back the parchment that Steffon was offering back to him. "As you wish your Grace," he allowed a slight smile. "Was there anything else we need to discuss grandfather?" Steffon asked, "I did promise Sansa that I would try and be on time for luncheon with her."

"How is the queen?" Tywin asked, taking a sip of his own wine. "She is well, and the Maester assures us that the babe is strong indeed," Steffon replied, setting down his empty glass. "Very good," Tywin nodded, a slight smile on his face. "Was that all?" Steffon asked again and Tywin hesitated a moment before replying. "I did have one other matter to put to you, your Grace," he said and Steffon looked towards him expectantly. "Go on," he invited.

"I had thought to make a new appointment to the small council, with Renly's position…vacant," Tywin said carefully and Steffon considered him for a long moment. "Did you have someone in mind?" Steffon asked after a painful silence. "I did as it happens," Tywin answered him, draining his glass. "I had thought to offer the position to Robb Stark."

"Stark?" Steffon repeated sharply and Tywin raised his brows. "He is kin," he said simply, "not just through the queen but through Amella." Steffon scowled slightly, moving to pour some more wine into his glass. "His tactical mind could be of great value to us during such testing times," Tywin continued, "is there any particular reason why you would not want to appoint him?"

"He and I have differing personal views," Steffon said vaguely and Tywin could guess what that meant. "You mean he disapproves of your fondness for whores when you are wed to his sister?" he returned and his grandson flushed slightly, taking a long drink of wine. "Something like that," Steffon muttered under his breath and Tywin sighed heavily. "I am certain you can set aside your differences for the good of the kingdoms," he said simply.

"Do you really think he'll accept the offer?" Steffon asked after a moment and it was Tywin's turn to grimace. "Left to his own devices I have no doubt that he would refuse us," he answered, "but I believe Amella can be rather persuasive when the need arises, and I am sure she will understand that I would not ask for him unless I had true need. We shall just have to offer, and hope that she does indeed persuade him to accept the position."

A/N: Hope you folks enjoyed that! I'll get my writing hat on and do my best to get another one ready and out for you by the weekend!

:)