AN

For those of you who didn't find it, the CoK scene i added that wasn't on the show was the scene where Arya and Gendry are about to fight. It was between the introduction to Jaqen and the arrival of the gold cloaks searching for Gendry. I turned it into wrestling but it was pretty much the same idea. I just love that scene and was sad they didn't include it in the show. I love that Gendry had been ready to fight Arya even though he already knew she was a girl! Thank you all for the reviews. Enjoy!

Arya had sat herself on one of the stairs, desperately rubbing at her toe as the pain crawled up her leg.

Her mother was soon at the light switch, and Arya blinked back as the chandelier in the main room lit filled the room with light.

Her father walked up to her slowly, drink in hand and Arya was glad she had her throbbing toe to distract her from having to meet his eyes. He reached the bottom stair and looked up at her expectantly.

Arya stole a glance at him, face wrinkled in pain before looking down at her foot and rubbing at her toe. The pain was nearly gone.

"Arya. What are you doing?" Ned demanded when he realized she wouldn't offer an explanation on her own.

"Forgot my mobile, 's all" she said, not meeting his eyes. Cat walked over to the table, setting her wine glass down and picking up Arya's phone.

"How long where you standing there?" Ned asked, a bit more casually. Arya shrugged.

"Arya." Ned pushed.

Arya's met his gaze then, and Ned sighed, rubbing his eyes. Cat walked up behind him, handing Arya's mobile to him and taking his drink.

"You know how we feel about eavesdropping Arya." she told her daughter sternly.

"i wasn't eavesdropping." Arya admitted easily.

Ned nodded, believing her.

"how much did you hear?" he held out her the phone. She stood, taking a few steps down until she could reach her phone. At this level she was almost as tall as Ned.

"About Robert wanting to find his bastard." she bit her lip, embarrassed. " You mentioned Cersei and their children. That's all"

Ned nodded again.

"I won't tell. No one. Not that i have anyone to tell. But i promise." she looked down at the phone in her hand, "Im sorry."

"you should go to bed. It's late." Ned said, trying to sound stern. But his amusement ebbed off his words. Cat smiled up at her from behind his shoulder.

Arya walked down to her parents, hugging them each goodnight and began sprinting up the stairs when her father called her name. She turned around at the top of the staircase.

"Try and make more noise next time." he said, taking the wine glass from his wife's hand. Arya's brow creased in confusion.

"up and down the stairs i mean." he laughed. "you're like a cat."

Arya rolled her eyes. Cat's don't stub their toes.

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Throwing his keys on the kitchen table, and his gym bag on the floor, Gendry took the pot off the burner and tipped it over the sink, emptying out that morning's water. He filled it up and placed it over the flame.

He sat on the sofa, pulling his shoes off and searching for the remote between the cushions. He found it tucked behind the right seat cushion. He clicked the tv on, kicking a book off the seat and resting his head on one arm of the couch and his feet on the other. He might have to drop a class, he thought. He was sure he was failing Algebra.

He began flipping through the channels until the tea pot began to whistle.

Gendry sat up with a groan, his back in knots. He set the remote aside, pulling off his shirt, stretching until he heard a pop. He stood taking the mug he'd used that morning off the coffee table and walking towards the screeching pot.

On the television, Chairman Robert Baratheon was speaking about a physical therapy wing he was sponsoring at Great Ormond. Gendry filled his mug with water and sat it on the table. He walked to the tv.

TV

"...recently, the son of my closest friend suffered a terrible accident while vacationing in the States. The boy was left immobile from the waist down. Now, it is my belief that..."

"Ned?" Gendry said out loud. He was friends with Robert Baratheon?

For some reason it shocked him to think of Ned and Robert Baratheon as friends. They were so different. But then Ned was like that. He was the kind of man to over look a man's flaws and befriend him for the good in him.

Kinda like with Gendry. He was not looking forward to telling him about the dropped class. Thinking about it now; thinking about Ned, he no longer wanted to drop the class.

Gendry took his tea to the couch. Baratheon was saying Bran Stark himself would be one of the first children to use the Physical Therapy wing at Ormond.

Gendry began flipping channels idly wandering how that would work, with the Starks all living here. Ned hadn't mentioned anything about a move. He took a sip of his tea feeling himself relaxing.

Stupid Arya!

He couldn't believe he almost fought her. He rolled his eyes at himself. That girl had more courage than sense. He'd probably break her in half in one move. She was so small. Then maybe she could keep her little brother company at the hospital.

"i gave you quite a workout the other day!"

Her words echoed in his head. She had. He just wouldnt admit it. To her least of all people. He'd never hear then end of it.

Gendry smiled, taking another sip of his drink. He liked her. She was a feisty little thing but he found he liked that.

She looked nothing like her sister. She was nothing like her either, he could bet on it. He recalled the way the red head Stark had eyed him and batted her lashes at him when they'd been introduced. And right in front of her father too.

No, Sansa looked more like her mother.

Gendry could see bits of Ned in Arya. Especially in the eyes. Knowing Ned though, and having met Catelyn, Gendry couldn't make sense of where Arya had inherited her fiery spirit. Gendry recalled the afternoon of the arrest.

Looking back, maybe she could kick his ass, he thought, recalling the fact that as soon as he grabbed her, his body couldn't help holding back his strength. Had they wrestled, he might have not had a choice if his body had reacted in the same way. She had just felt so thin and fragile he was afraid he'd break her.

He probably had left a couple a bruises on her.

Maybe not. He hoped not.

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Arya flew off her pillow gasping for air. She was soaked in sweat and her heart was beating wildly against her ribcage. She kicked the covers off her and ran to the window, pushing it open.

The sky was still dark out, and the air was freezing. The cold air froze her sweat within seconds and a chill ran down her spine. She quickly pulled the window closed and ran back to bed, pulling the covers over her tightly. Another chill ran through her body and the blood rushed to her head making her surroundings spin.

She couldn't recall the dream, but it left a hollow in her stomach. After the warmth had retuned to her body, she began feeling around the covers for her phone. When she found it, she learned it was 3: 16 am.

Arya went to her contacts and scrolled down, stopping on Jon.

She stared at the phone for a long time before she touched his name. She touched the message icon and began to type in her message.

"i miss you, stupid!"

She pressed send and tossed the phone besides her.

She wracked her brain trying to remember the dream. Nothing. It had obviously been a nightmare. She could feel it. After what felt like hours, she finally felt sleep settle over her again.

When she woke again, it was light outside. She sat up in her bed recalling last night. It felt so surreal. almost as if waking up had been the dream itself.

She jumped out of bed, quickly replacing her nightshirt with jeans and a hoodie. She brushed her hair and pulled it back into a ponytail. She opened the top drawer of her dresser and pulled out a leash.

Nymeria barked twice as Arya walked out the back door of the house, waving the leash at her. The dog ran towards the her and lifted her front paws to rest them on Arya's shoulders, nearly knocking her back.

Arya fastened the leash on kissing Nymeria's muzzle before the dog resumed standing on all four feet.

"Lets go!' Arya told her and the dog ran towards the back gate.

"Can i come?"

Arya stopped, but Nymeria kept on running tugging at Arya. Arya turned towards the house. It was Bran, in his chair, looking out from the kitchen. Arya wanted to say no. She hated this!

Before she could have easily said no. Now, she found it so hard to be mean to Bran and she hated that. He was still Bran. If it was her in the wheelchair she would hate it if people treated her nice because she couldn't walk. She was sure Bran hated it too. Still, she found herself nodding despite that fact that she wanted to be alone. The boy rolled down the ramp they had installed for him, managing to close the door behind him.

They walked in silence. Arya was still trying to remember the dream but nothing came. No images, no faces, no sounds, no smells. Nothing. She hated nightmares, she hated the edginess they left. But she found she hated this more. Not remembering, yet still feeling. The fear, the anger, the sadness, but not the cause for it.

"I had a dream last night. A nightmare" Bran told her when they'd reached the park and let Nymeria run free. Arya's head snapped to him.

"A nightmare?" she asked stupidly.

"Father was in it. And another man, only i couldn't see his face. They were walking side by side, then the man fell behind. When father turned to look for him he was gone. In his place, a lion. In on move it jumped on father and ripped his head off."

The hollow she had felt last night began to fill. Suddenly she felt her insides fill with panic. A chill ran down her spine, like the ones she had felt earlier that morning.

"Do you think something will happen to father?" he asked shakily.

"Its just a stupid dream Bran," Arya told him, trying to sound annoyed.

"Yea." Bran agreed, not entirely convinced.

But soon, he was talking just like old Bran. Arya made noises here and there to let him know she was paying attention, even though she wasn't. The entire time they spent at the park, and the whole walk back, all Arya could see was the lion's teeth digging into the flesh of her father's neck. It tore at it and she heard the bones crunch under the lion's teeth. Then the blood came. So much blood.

Walking into the kitchen, they were welcomed by the smell of breakfast.

"Morning little ones! Its Saturday! You know what that means!" Mordane cried out excitedly. Arya walked crossed to the kitchen exit, leaving Bran with Mordane.

She could hear her mother and Robb arguing as they walked in through the front door, groceries in hand.

"It was just last night he mentioned it, it's all over the news now!" Cat exclaimed as she gave the grocery bag to Arya and walked back out the front door. Robb and Arya exchanged a glance and he followed her back into the kitchen.

"Mordane's making crepes!" Bran announced enthusiastically.

"I thought crepes were a Saturday only thing." Robb said, setting the bags down on the counter, and playfully untying Mordane's apron.

"It is Saturday, stupid! What's wrong with mom?" Arya demanded.

Before Robb could answer Cat and Ned walked into the kitchen.

"...and the news said construction began last week! Last night.. he wasn't asking, he was informing. That interview was from yesterday morning!" Cat let out, placing the bags down roughly on the kitchen island. Bran rolled out of the way as she pulled the eggs out and stomped towards the refrigerator. "He had already made the choice for us," she yanked to refrigerator door open," as if Bran was His son! He had already made up his mind to send him off!" she placed the eggs inside and slammed the door.

"Robert was only trying to help, Im sure of it. Ill have a talk with him. He was sure we would say yes, he..."

"Using our son to plaster his name all over the newspapers, and the television! Boasting of his kindness and charity!" Cat interrupted tugging a bag of apples out of the paper bag, tearing it.

"It's not like that Catelyn!" Ned assured her, beginning to grow frustrated.

"It's not?" she yelled, tugging harshly at the plastic bag in her hand. The apples fell, rolling all over the floor.

"STOP IT! Stop it both of you! Stop arguing over me! I dont have to go, there are other hospitals, just stop fighting!" Bran cried before rolling out of the kitchen leaving them all in shock. Cat was the one to break the silence as she began to weep and sat on a chair. Ned crossed to his wife taking the seat next to her and took both her hands in his.

"Robert was only trying to help. This is a good hospital. This is all for Bran, but he's right, there are other hospitals. Don't upset yourself love."

"No. No." Cat whispered, shaking her head. Arya felt awkward just standing there so she began to help Robb with the apples.

"This is the best for Bran. Ill go with him, as soon as the wing is finished. Well see how he likes it. Try it out." She told her husband. Ned wiped a tear from his wife's face, kissing her.

Arya turned to Robb who was also staring at their parents. His eyes met Arya's and he stuck his tongue out in disgust. Arya giggled and the heavy mood was completely lifted off like a veil. Ned stood.

"So what's this i hear about crepes?"

"It's Saturday!" Mordane announced as she mixed the batter. Ned smiled at her.

Cat stood, wiping at her face. "Ill go see Bran." she announced and left the room. Arya placed the last of the apples in the bowl Robb had and stood.

Ned walked up to her giving her a sideways hug and a kiss on her forehead. The warmth of his proximity brought back memories of the dream Bran had described. Ned felt her tense up and quickly asked about it.

"what's the matter?"

Grey eyes met grey eyes. She wanted to tell him. About her dream which she didn't remember. About Brans. But standing there staring into her father's eyes she couldn't bring herself to. She looked away and simply said, "i just miss Jon."

When she looked back at her father, his eyes were glazed.

"Me too," he whispered. "we all do."

"Not mother"

That had clearly stung her father. He released her.

"Im sure she does too." he offered

"That's a lie" Arya let out wealky, almost to herself. "she's the reason he left"

She felt Robb's eyes on her but didn't turn to look at him as she walked out of the kitchen, into the main hallway. She crossed paths with Sansa as she sleepily strolled down the stairs, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"You missed breakfast! Delicious crepes! All gone now!" Arya teased, watching as the lie woke Sansa's senses and she hurried towards the kitchen.

Arya walked into her room and locked the door behind her, feeling exhaustion weigh her down. She fell on her bed, shoes and all and felt her mobile digging at her back. She remembered texting Jon. She pulled it from under the covers, pressing the side button.

No messages.

There never was.

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Note

Again i apologize for the lack of Gendry/Arya scenes. Im just setting the mood for what will come, trust me, this is a Gendry/Arya fanfic, and they will come together, im just setting up all the ends that will need to be tied up when we hit the crucial scene in the story that will change all these people's lives. Thanks for reading, please review!