For most the betrothal of Joffrey Baratheon to Margaery Tyrell was a joyous occasion and it was clear that the young widow was favoured much more than Sansa Stark. Joanna never thought that she would ever pick the Stark girl as her favourite in anything, let alone marrying Joffrey but after meeting Margaery she would even walk Sansa down the aisle herself.
Margaery was pretty and polite and witty, and Joanna hated it all. She may not be as pretty or smart as Joanna, much to Joffrey's assurance, but there was something about her perky attitude that annoyed her immensely. Joffrey had assured her repeatedly that he wasn't going to fall in love with her and that the affection he was showing was all an act but she couldn't help becoming jealous watching them laugh and talk together.
Since Joanna's return she couldn't have felt more alone. Joffrey was enamoured with Margaery and her mother was spending much of her time with Jaime or resolving political matters. After her revelation that Jaime was in fact her father, it made her cringe every time both him and her mother were missing. She wasn't disgusted with them, she couldn't be when she was guilty of the exact same thing, however it didn't stop her wishing that she had never known. Shortly after her discovery she realised that it meant that her siblings didn't have any right to the throne. Ned Stark had been right in his accusations, and he had been executed for it, however in Joffrey's defence he had no idea of the truth in his words.
However Joffrey had been King Robert's heir, he had raised him, no matter how poor a job he did. All four of his 'children' had been raised as Baratheon's, but now her mother's insistence that they embrace their Lannister side became more understandable. Luckily she and Joffrey were in a better situation than their parents had been. But it was all going to be ruined if Joff decided he preferred Margaery Tyrell to her.
"You look adorable when you're jealous." Joffrey chuckled, as they awoke from their night shared together. It had been common for Joanna to spend the night in her brothers chambers, to prevent rumours Joanna made sure that her uncle was on guard duty those nights.
Scowling and scoffing she replied. "I am not jealous! I just don't want you to replace me."
"How could I ever replace you? You're my twin, my other half, she will just be my wife and mother of my children."
Hearing it said out loud froze the air in Joanna's lungs. "I thought I was going to have your children. Can't you-"
"Joanna…" Joffrey warned, his tone darkening. "I must have an heir with Margaery, as you must have a child with your husband. After that we can have a few together."
In protest Joanna stormed out of the bed, wrapping the sheets around her naked figure. Sitting herself down on a chair she folded her arms and glared. "So her son will grow up to be King whilst mine will be nothing more than a lowly Lord."
He sighed and approached his sister, placing a hand on her shoulder which she immediately removed. "What do you want me to do? Not give her a child?"
"If she finds herself unable to have a child you could remain married to her out of 'love' and then declare my son, your son as your heir."
"It isn't that simple!" He exclaimed, pulling his twin up so that they were looking eye to eye. Pulling her close he dropped the sheet that was protecting their modesty.
"Then I'll make it simple." Joanna smiled sweetly. "Agree to my idea or I'll agree to marry whoever mother wants. Even if it means we never see each other again."
Joffrey called her bluff. "I am the King. I decide who you marry."
Joanna dressed quickly without a word and left on a war path.
JOFFREY
"Loras Tyrell!" He shouted as he stormed into his sisters chambers. "You agreed to marry Loras Tyrell!"
Not even bothering to close the door behind him he marched up to Joanna and grabbed her arms forcefully. Despite his harsh grip obviously causing her pain he shook her aggressively. There was an anger in his eyes that Joanna had never seen directed towards her before and for the first time in her life Joanna has genuinely terrified.
"You said that I must marry and give my husband an heir. Isn't this what you wanted?" She exclaimed, struggling to free herself.
"I was to be the one who chose your husband. Everyone knows that he is a pansy who prefers the company of men. What were you thinking?"
Joanna waited for him to calm down slightly before she gave her answer, bruises beginning to form on her arms. "Exactly. He prefers the company of men. He will never truly love me and will probably be grateful that I don't want him in bed."
Joffrey scoffed and released her. "Would you really be happy being married to a man who can never love you?"
Slowly stroking her brothers arm Joanna replied sadly. "I will never be truly happy until I marry the man I love-you."
"If he ever mistreats you, I-" Joffrey began, his previous anger diminishing.
Joanna nodded, understanding. "I know, sweet love. I just have to lay with him until I am with child."
"Do you want to have his child?"
The question threw her. "I….I want a child."
"That's not what I asked." Joffrey retorted. "Would bearing his child make you forget about your wish to have one with me?"
All this talk of babes made Joanna's stomach ache in longing of the child she had lost in secret. She had made an agreement with herself to never speak of her pregnancy to anyone, especially Joffrey but hearing him speaking of children was almost too much to bear.
"I want your child, Joff, more than you can ever imagine. After I give the flowery young knight I will give you a child of our own. A golden boy with my eyes and your hair or a girl with my hair and your eyes or we may even be blessed with twins. I would give anything to hold a child of our own to replace-"
Once she said those words her body tensed up. Hopefully Joffrey hadn't quite heard what she had said but as usual with her brother he paid attention to every minute thing she did.
"Replace?" He asked, curiously, "What do you mean replace?"
Joanna struggled to think of an excuse for her words but sentences failed her. She fumbled, not a sound emerging from her dry mouth as her brothers expression grew darker.
"Joanna, tell me." He ordered. "I may be your brother but I am also your King, tell me what you meant."
A single tear rolled down Joanna's cheek as Joffrey reached out to grab her arm and the tear rolled off her chin on to his arm. The tear was quickly joined by a second and a third and within seconds Joanna was in tears, sobbing into her brother's arms. Despite being unsure of what was happening Joffrey pulled her on to the bed and held her in his arms.
"I was with child… when I….. went to get uncle Jaime… at the Stark camp…. I didn't know…" Her words were interrupted by involuntary sobs. "I didn't know…. How did I not know… How did I not realise…. I should have felt something…. Anything."
Once her muffled words died out they just sat there in silence, Joanna's head resting against his chest as he held her.
"What happened?" The usually arrogant and cocky man had evaporated and had left behind a young boy.
"I lost it."
Stroking her head as she began crying again, Joffrey replied. "It wasn't your fault. Don't worry. I will make the Stark's pay for it. They killed our child. They are to blame."
And so the lovers lay there in mourning for hours, forgetting all responsibilities as their father guarded the door and prayed that they can have the life that he and Cersei wanted.
UPDATES
Sorry if it got depressing at the end, I wanted Joffrey to find out in the most emotional way I could think of.
-I only have about 8 chapters planned left in this story, including an epilogue. But I hope to write a sequel after about characters in the future, but it isn't mainly about Joanna thought she will be a main character.
-I'm also thinking of uploading this to wattpad as well so if you see this there in the future it will be posted by me.
-I'm trying to find a picture for this story so if anyone knows of any fanarts that would suit this could you send me the link.
Thanks for everyone who had read this far, I hope I haven't disappointed.