It had been a pretty crappy week, starting with the events with that Stark girl. He'd gotten a D in a test he had felt moderately prepared for. He recalled how comfortable he'd felt with the outcome of Tuesday morning's test.

Looking at the posted results this afternoon, he felt completely discouraged about school all over again and knew just where he could drain all those rubbish feelings out of his system.

Walking into the gym he was welcomed by the smell of disinfectants, sweat and febreze and he felt the muscles on his neck relax at the familiarity of his surroundings. As he walked out of the changing rooms and towards his usual bench, he almost crashed into a small figure in a crown braid. As she faced him, Gendry couldn't explain the wave of alarm that ran through all of his body as he realized who it was.

"what're You doing here?" he demanded a bit too crudely than he intended, only then realizing how stupid his question was. Her eyebrows furrowed

"it's the gym."

Gendry eyed her outfit. She wore all black and had a green yoga mat rolled under her arm.

"it's sorta of a deal i made with my mum." she told him as she followed him, sitting cross legged on the bench that was next to the one he had begun to prep. He gave her a quick backwards glance. "yoga?"

She nodded placing her bag and mat down next to her. "i could drop ettiquette lessons if i started yoga classes. She wants me to channel my energy. More like dilute it if you ask me. "

Gendry smiled, laying back on the bench. Arya stood suddenly, leaning over his weights.

"How much do you bench press?"

Gendry snorted, "more than you ever could. " he teased.

She scoffed at him, "you don't know that!"

"Trust me..." he grunted as he pushed the weight bar off the barr holder, "i do."

"i'm, stronger than i look. I can beat my brothers in almost everything. I can outrun my brother Bran and he's the best runner i know." she paused suddenly, blinking back her words.

"was." she corrected herself, almost inaudibly. Gendry stilled his arms, his eyes meeting Arya's.

He recalled the morning Ned had arrived to work and told everyone to keep his son Bran in their prayers. He'd told them of the call he'd received at 3am that morning.

Later that day Yoren had briefly told Gendry about Ned's children, assuring him he'd meet them soon.

I would come to arrest one of them soon.

"I used to be able to beat him," Arya smiled sadly. Gendry resumed bench pressing, stealing a quick glance every now and then to make sure she was ok.

"I gave you quite a workout the other day." she pointed out proudly, changing the mood quickly.

Gendry laughed dryly, grunting as he pushed the bar up, away from his chest.

"No," he grunted loudly as he pulled the bar towards his chest, "...you didn't"

"you're a liar!" she said picking up her things off the bench she had been sitting on, clearly offended.

"you know, you shouldn't insult people that are bigger than you!" he called out as she headed towards the exit.

She turned grimacing in disbelief, "then i wouldnt get to insult anyone!" she called back as she shouldered her bag pack and turned back towards the exit door.

Gendry smiled to himself. True.

Arya's presence had been robbing him of the relief he had come here for. With her gone, he could focus now. He needed to get rid of all the stress the week had brought.

But, before he knew, suddenly out of nowhere, Arya appeared from behind pushing down at the weight bar he held with all her weight, her upside down face a foot away from his. He held the bar up startled, feeling the pressure on his chest and neck.

"Arya! What the..."

"Want to wrestle?" she asked him. He blinked back, shocked. She gave a quick look towards the wrestling room that were to the right of the locker rooms.

"I'd hurt you." he huffed out, eyes wide.

"You would not."

"You don't know how strong i am."

"You don't know how quick i am." she said, taking her weight off the bar, stepping back.

A thrill ran through him at the challenge in her voice, and he placed the weights back in the bar holder and sat up with a smile.

"You're asking for it, Arya." he warned her, deepening his smile. She smiled too, clearly excited.

A ringing startled them both, and Arya reached for her pack which lay on the floor behind Gendry's bench. She pulled out her mobile, answering with a swipe of her finger on the screen.

"mom?"

At that second Gendry felt the adrenaline drain out of him almost instantly, leaving him dizzy. Only then did he realize what a silly idea it was.

"no." Arya said to her phone, galncing quickly at Gendry. "yoga class just ended... yes...right now?"

She shouldered her pack and picked up her mat. "ok. " she said.

She began to walk towards the the exit, turning back and waving good bye to Gendry. "no one mentioned it" she said to her phone pulling her keys out one of her back pack's zippers.

Gendry watched her walk out the door. He felt odd. He looked over at the weight bar, and made a face. His workout had sorta been ruined.

He stood, grabbed his towel and went to the locker room to collect his things, skipping the shower. He'd just shower at home.

xxxxxxxxxx

Arya dumped her keys on the bowl kept at the entrance, and ran up the stairs two at a time.

She dumped her gym pack at the foot of her bed, kicking off her shoes and pealing off her yoga capris and tank top. She jumped into her shower and racked her brain as she made a mental picture of all the dresses she had, unbraiding her hair while massaging shampoo onto it aggressively.

She hated dressing up.

She showered quickly, and jumped out of the shower, towel drying her hair. She ran up to her closet, yanking at the doors eyeing her dress section quickly, before pulling off the hanger a short strapless ice colored dress Robb had bought for her. She dropped the towel that had been wrapped around her body and slipped into it, zipping at the side. She realized she had no shoes to go with it.

Hair still wet, soaking the back of the dress, she ran to Sansa's room.

"Sansa" she banged at the door.

Sansa opened, toothbrush in mouth. "Yo'r not rewwy?"

"I need shoes for this."

Panicked, Sansa ran to her restroom rink and spat.

"They won't fit," she told her as she walked to her closet.

"Better than nothing." Arya said, grabbing one of Sansa's brushes off her dresser and brushing through her tangled hair. She wrinkled her nose as Sansa held up a pair of cream pumps. Sansa walked back into her closet.

"How will you do your hair?"

"who cares!"

"These aren't too tall. Now go" Sansa said handing her a pair of black strappy heels and pushing her out of the room.

Arya ran into Robb in the hallway. He raised his eyebrows and smiled at her dress.

Arya shook her head, rolling her eyes. "what's this dinner for?" she complained.

He shrugged. "I don't know. Personally i've had enough of the Baratheons and the Lannisters to last me two, maybe three life times."

Arya giggled.

"You should hurry." Robb urged as he walked down the stairs. "unless you want mother to have a fit."

"Shell have a fit when she sees that tie" Arya called out as she walked into her room.

Robb paused mid staircase. "i like this tie"

Arya smiled widely closing the door.

"what's wrong with my tie?" she heard him yell.

Arya had considered leaving her hair down but it had already begun to dry oddly. She strapped the heels on and braided her hair to one side. She looked at herself in the mirror. Stupid dress!

'Stupid Sansa" she said out loud, knowing this was probably about that stupid engagement. Stupid Joffrey!

Heading down the stairs, she heard Robert's hearty laugh and knew their guests had arrived.

Dinner had been fairly tolerable. Robert had made a few remarks about Arya's resemblance to her aunt which he made every time she dressed up. He had mocked Joffrey saying, "Look at her, all sweet and lady like. Can you believe she beat the shit out of your face with a rock!"

Joffrey held two finger tips to the scarring gash on his forehead.

Arya bit her lip to keep from smiling, while Rickon and Robb failed to. Robb sipped at his drink to hide it.

"How are you doing little angel?" Cersie asked Bran suddenly, taking everyone's attention off Joffrey.

Bran nodded.

"better." he lied

"Still can't remember a thing?" Cersei asked curiously.

"No. It's all still a blur." he answered sincerely.

"That's a shame." she told him sipping at her drink.

Robert stood then, and announced the purpose for their gathering. He announced he was going to pay for Bran's therapy. Her father stood.

"Robert, there is no need to..."

"Now you be quiet and sit!" Robert cut him off. "That boy was under my responsibility and it's only right. He's family. He's my best friend's son and therefore he's like one of my own. It is no trouble. Ill have it no other way. I've talked to a few people, made a few deals," he smiled, "he's to have the best of the best!"

He nodded to Bran then. "what do you think, boy?"

Bran gave Ned a quick look. Ned smiled down at his son and Bran smiled up at Robert.

"Thank you." he said.

Robert laughed, picking up his glass and toasting to Bran. Cersei smiled up at her husband then over at Bran, finishing the rest of her wine in one swallow.

After dinner, Robert annouced it was time for business and nodded over to Ned's study. Ned kissed Cat and lead Robert down the hall to his office.

Sansa suggested her and Joffrey walk ouside. Joffrey who had been strangely quiet and sour faced most of the evening nodded once with a sneer and they excused themselves. Robb had also excused himself to go study and Arya was stuck listening to Cersei tell Catelyn what a lovely match Sansa and Joffrey made. They began discussing wedding ideas when Arya stood, too restless to just sit and listen. She wanted to hit something!

She thought about Gendry. Of how fun it would have been if she had wrestled him. Stupid him! Thought she wasn't strong enough! Ha! She remembered how tired he'd been after he had arrested her.

She smiled at the memory as she walked towards the dinner table.

It had been cleared and Bran had Rickon, Myrcella and Tommen gathered around his chess board as he explained the rules and moves.

"i like the horse!" Tommen said. Rickon nodded smiling.

"knight!" Bran corrected.

He was playing against Myrcella. He explained the three different moves she could make next.

Arya sat next to Tommen, resting her face against her hand, biting down on her lip. She could go swim!

Only it was too cold now, and Joffrey was out there with Sansa.

Myrcella moved her rook taking Bran's knight.

"That's good" Bran noted.

Tommen held his hand out for it and examined it once she had placed it on his palm.

"Grandpa Tywin has a ranch in Hampshire with horses! Lots of them. You should all come visit with us!" he told them.

At that, Bran's gaze dropped. Arya's hand dropped from under her chin. She could smack Tommen on the head! She could probably pinch him from under the table. If he tried telling she could give him one of those looks her mother used. Maybe he'd recall the blood running down Joffreys face back in New York and become to afraid to tell.

"I can't ride." Bran said moving a pawn idly. Myrcella reached out for his hand across the table and gave it a comforting squeeze.

"Yes you can" she smiled kindly. "They have special saddles."

"Like cousin Cal!" Tommen exclaimed. Myrcella nodded and smiled at Bran. He smiled back at her. It was Bran's smile. The one he always smiled before the accident!

Myrcella let go of his hand moving her remaining knight.

"Check mate" she said.

RIckon giggled, nearly falling off his chair while Tommen clapped.

"No one beats Bran! Not even father!" Arya gasped out.

Bran's smiled deepened.

She liked Myrcella, Arya thought. She was nothing like her mother, whose smile never reached her eyes. She was kind, clever and wise for her age.

"My turn!" Arya said, resetting the board.

The rest of the evening went by fast. Myrcella beat Arya twice and Bran beat Myrcella twice. It had to be two of the most intense matches she'd ever seen, except for her grandfather and her father's.

After the Baratheon's had left, Arya began to clear the chess board before Mordane told her she'd take care of it. Arya bid her good nights and tiredly dragged herself up the stairs. Stripping the dress of and kicking Sansa's heels off she fell back on her bed in her underwear.

She was too tired to change into her night clothes. Stupid heels!

It had been a long day. It had to be well past 11. Looking for her mobile she realized she's left it down stairs. She stood with a groan tugging a long night shirt over her head and heading to fetch it.

The lights were off, the lit chimney the only light down stairs.

Ned and Cat sat in the den, sipping wine, their backs turned towards the stairs.

Arya stopped mid staircase.

"He want's my team of investigators to find him." Ned said in his calm voice.

"Why now, after all these years?" Cat asked. Her mother always gave away her true feelings in her voice.

Ned shook his head. "Im not sure."

"Why would Robert want to find his bastard son after all these years?"

"I think he may know." he sipped his wine. "That's the only thing that could explain it If he knew about Cercei. About his children."

Arya turned to walk back up the stairs, but she hit her toe at the edge and cried out. Ned and Cat turned.

"Arya?" Ned stood.

" What are you doing there?"

AN

For those of you who have read the books, i hope you noticed the scene i added from the book. It's a Gendry scene i really loved in Clash of Kings which was cut from the series. I also weaved in another bit of a scene :) I know this doesn't have a lot of Gendry in it, but like in the books, i want to keep the interraction between Arya and Gendry at a minimum before they're forced to come together and depend on each other. If you've read the books, there are Gendrya scenes, but they're not always in each others company until they leave Harrenhal and are with each other 24/7

Please review! Thanks!