Author's note: I went semi-au regarding Johanna's family past and that will kind of happen in a way. I will explain more of why I added the thing about Tommen later. Anyway I hope you like this chapter. Thank you for the reviews, follows and favorites.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything from the Game of thrones, I do not own the Song of the Seven, it is from the Song of Ice and Fire Novels. I own Johanna.

Chapter 3: Sickness

Johanna was awoken by a small gentle kiss upon her neck, causing her to let out a small moan. She did not roll over as arms were wrapped around her and as she was pulled flush against a naked body. He was warm which filled Johanna with joy, she had grown cold in the middle of the night, even with the blankets that were meant to keep her warm.

"You stayed the night." She was surprised.

"I did, it's a risk worth taking for you."

He continued to kiss her neck, traveling to her bare shoulder to kiss the bruise that lay there. Johanna winced as her brothers lips met the wounded flesh. He continued to kiss it lighter, not to her hurt again. His hand traveled up her stomach until it reached her bare breast. He took the mound of flesh in his hand squeezing it gently, enlisting a moan from his sister.

"I am sorry about the bruises, my love."

"It's alright, you were angered. I do not hold it against you."

When she returned to her chambers after leaving Robb, Joffrey had been waiting for her. He had rage in his eyes, and it was not long until they were arguing. Well, it was more of Joff yelling while Johanna sat on the bed listening to him. She never yelled, it was beyond her to.

"I just can't stand it sometimes, it drives me mad when men look at you."

She rolled over in his arms and gave her brother a soft smile. She knew her brother had a jealous streak, but she did as well. She had gotten to know the young girl Sansa in the almost fortnight they had been in Winterfell, but even then it did not quell her jealousy. The girl was to marry Joffrey because the King could not settle for only one union to the Stark family.

"You know I only have eyes for you, brother."

She kissed him gently on the lips.

"I know, my dear sister, I know." He began to run his fingers through her hair. " It does not change that I hate the idea of you marrying this boy."

It was not secret to her that Joff hated the man she was to marry. Johanna did not feel the same way, she had only spent the one day getting to know Robb and he seemed kind enough. Ever since they were in the kennels though she had avoided him, it was better for everyone involved. Joffrey had made it clear to her how he felt, and for her love she would do anything. She spent most of her time with the Stark children. She would join Myrcella and Sansa in needlework, and she enjoyed teaching the girls new things to make. When she was not with them she found herself running around with Rickon, or watching Bran climb against his mothers wishes. She had grown fond of her betrothed's siblings, and they all seemed to be fond of her as well, save the second girl. Arya could not seem to stand Johanna, but it did not bother her.

"Do you have to go hunting today? Can't you stay with me, brother? Uncle Jaime is staying, and I believe uncle Tyrion is as well." Anna did not wish for her brother to leave her.

"Father is insisting, my love, but I will be back before you know it. Uncle Jaime is only staying to look after you and mother."

Johanna felt lonely as he brother stood from the bed, standing completely naked before he. She did not look away, she let her eyes travel his body. She had seen him naked many times before, but yet they had never dared to make love. He would just hold her naked against him, and that was enough for Johanna most times. She longed to feel her brother inside of her, she longed to have that level of love but he never agreed to it.

"What will you be doing in my absence?"

"Spending time with the children."

Johanna had found herself quite fond of Rickon and Bran Stark. While her brother forbid her to be around her future husband, she found company in his siblings. Rickon was a sweet spirited boy who enjoyed running with his wolf in the courtyard. Bran told Johanna stories of horrors that lived beyond the giant wall, and he told her of his plans for the future. She found Bran to be quite opposite of her own brother Tommen, who she loved, Tommen was much more soft spoken then the Stark child.

"I do not know why you find such company in children." Once he was dressed Joff took a seat on the bed next to her.

"Because children are kind, brother, and innocent."

Johanna shivered as her brother removed the covers from over her body. He had a wicked grin upon his face as he looked down upon her naked form. Johanna did not shy away as her brother ran his hand up her thigh.

"Innocent." He said the word in such a mocking tone. "You are not as innocent, my love."

Johanna let out a quiet moan as Joff placed his hand over her womanhood. He left his hand on her warmth, feeling the wetness, as he leaned forward to kiss her. Johanna leaned into the kiss wishing he could stay in bed with her.

"Stay."

"Nice try, love, but I can not. I do think,however, that you should stay in bed,and await my return.

He ran his fingers across her womanhood teasing her, denying her the pleasure he could tell she wanted. Johanna bit her lip looking up at her twin, his green eyes full of wicked intent. He leaned down once more to place a kiss upon her forehead before standing up leaving her wanting.

"Farewell, sister."

"Try not to kill my future husband, brother."

"I make no promises, arrows are finicky things."

Johanna went to protest but her brother was already gone. She lay in the bed feeling a warmth in her lower regions. She wanted Joffrey more than anything, but he would never give her what she sought. She did not care if she was not a maiden when she married, but it was apparent that her brother cared. She did not know if her betrothed would mind it, she did not think he was himself was pure. He was a handsome man and she did not doubt he had his fair share of whores in his time. Why should it matter if she remained pure for him? Johanna wanted her first time to be with the man she loved, not a kind stranger she was forced on to.

Johanna fell asleep shortly after Joffrey left, it was the break of dawn and she needed more rest. When she finally awoke once more she looked upon her naked body, light bruises fading into her skin. She loved her brother but he was uncontrollable when he was angered. He had not hit her, but the grip he held onto her was so tight he left bruises. One upon her shoulder, one upon her wrist, and two upon her hips. Her brother had a bitter temper, but she forgave him as quickly as she could. Bruises would fade, but her love for Joffrey was forever.

She took only a few moments to dress herself, putting on a plain blue gown. She had given up on trying to impress her husband, it was never her intention anyway. They were to marry in two days time, and she had not spoken to him in almost a fortnight. Any ground they had gained was ripped away by Joffrey but Johanna did not care. If Joffrey wanted to be the only one to hold her company, she would not deny him. Soon her brother would be off to Kings Landing and she would be trapped in Winterfell without any blood.

"Johanna, my dear, are you awake?" Johanna smiled at the sound of her mother's voice.

"Come in mother."

Johanna was always close to her mother, she took everything the woman said to heart. Johanna may have been born a Baratheon but it was the Lannisters she took after. Her looks came from her mother, her soft spoken nature was from her grandmother, Johanna was a Lannister. Cersei was a doting mother that took care of Johanna's every need, the girl never wanted for a thing. She was able to spend most of her time with her siblings, and no one ever bothered her because her mother saw to it.

"You grow more beautiful everyday, my little lioness."

"I will never reach your beauty mother."

Her mother took a brush from the girl's night table and began to run it through her hair. Johanna smiled as her mother brushed her long golden locks. It was something her mother would do often, when the time permitted it, and it was something she would miss greatly.

"Are you nervous, my love? It will only be two day now until the wedding."

"I am nervous, but he seems kind enough mother. I suppose I should be lucky."

Johanna knew the chances of her finding a good husband were slim. She knew he father was in control of who she married, and if it was not Robb Stark, she did not doubt it would be a monster. Someone like her father, a whoring drunkard.

"You must be careful, my dear, he is as wolf blooded as they come."

Johanna had heard the term wolf blooded before, her mother had used it to describe Lyanna to her. She called her a wild animal of a woman, one who fought and had no regard for class. Johanna had never truly encountered such a woman, though she did not encounter many. The Ladies she was used to were proper, and only found at the feasts her father would hold. She was used to her mother who taught her to be proper and ladylike in any situation.

"I will be mother. I will visit too, do not worry. When I have children I will bring them south to you."

Johann wished not to think of the children she would give to Lord Stark, but she could not help it. She wanted to be a mother very much, even if it was not the children of the man she loved. She had seen her mother raise her children in a loveless marriage and Johanna knew she could do the same. It was not ideal, but it was something she was prepared for.

"I will count the days, my lioness. You are my eldest daughter, my first born daughter. I will never forgive your father for sending you away." Her mother kissed the top of her head. "I never wished for you to be sent to such a horrid place, you have no home here."

Johanna understood her mother because she already growing sick of the cold. All the Starks spoke of was that winter was coming, and Johanna wished to be far away when that happened. In Kings Landing she would have been warm, the sun always gracing her face but in the north she felt as if she could turn to stone. The pair sat in the silence of the moment, her mother just running her fingers through her hair just as Joffrey had. Johanna loved her family, and she felt as if she would slowly die without them to comfort her. She had no hope in Winterfell, save the children.

"Johanna I must ask you something, and I do not wish for a lie my little lioness."

"I never lie to you mother." And that was the truth, Johanna never had to lie. She hated to lie.

"I went in search of your brother last night, and I could not find him. Was he in your chamber again?"

Johanna looked down at the ground. Her mother had caught Joffrey laying with her one night, years ago, and her mother flew into a rage. It was innocent then, they were barley eleven, but even still her mother was in a frenzy. Johanna shifted anxiously in her seat.

"I am sorry mother, he was."

"My little lioness, do not be sorry. My love, I think we should talk."

Johanna spun in her stool to face her mother. The older woman sat upon the bed, her green eyes full of emotion. Cersei took her daughter's hands in her own, smiling upon her but Johanna saw the way the smile did not reach her eyes. Something was bothering her mother, and Johanna just wished to help.

"No one will understand what it is like for you to have a twin here. No one here will understand the bond you have with him, you must not tell them my love. I know you see no harm in sharing a bed with your brother, and maybe as a child it was harmless, but Johanna you have been a woman for some time now."

It was true Johanna had gotten her first moonsblood on the eve of her thirteenth nameday. Joffrey had spent the night as a present to them both, but when she awoke to find the blood in the bed she cried for days. She was ashamed that Joff had to see her in such a way, she avoided him for days after. She was a woman, but her mother would never understand the bond she shared with Joffrey. Johanna knew no one would understand them. The Targaryens had died out with the help of her family, and with that the tradition of marrying siblings died as well. Johanna wished she had been born a Targaryen countless times in her life, maybe then she would find happiness.

"I know mother and it will not happen again. He was comforting me because I am so frightened."

Johanna never lied, she hated to lie but she had to lie. What could she tell her mother? She smiled upon the woman who gave her life, trying her best to hide her true intentions. Joff was her love, and if her mother found out ti would surely mean ruin for them all.

"I know my child. Now why don't you run along and play with the children, they have been asking for you."

Johanna smiled and excused herself from her mother. First she would go in search of breakfast and then she would find the children. She could hardly run around on an empty stomach. She found the guest hall empty, no doubt her family had already broke fast. She asked a maid for a small plate of bacon and a sweetroll. Johanna had a sweet tooth and since no one else was in the hall with her it meant she could have whatever she wished for breakfast.

Once Johanna had filled her belly she went in search of the children but instead she found her uncle. Her handsome uncle Jaime stood against the remnants of a broke tower, his golden hair blowing in the cold wind. Johanna smiled to herself as she approached the man.

"Hello, Uncle."

"Well hello, Hanna, how are you fairing this bitter morning?"

"Cold, but I plan to run with the children so I am sure the chill shall fade."

The older man ruffled her hair with a small smile.

"Well do not let me keep you, dear, go find those children."

Jaime leaned down and kissed Johanna on the cheek before she walked away. A lady never truly ran, but Johanna pretended to with the children. Johanna found the children standing in the main courtyard. Rickon was chasing his small pup Shaggydog, Sansa sat with Myrcella doing needlepoint and Bran was about to rush past her.

"Where are you going little Lord?"

"I can't say."

She saw the shifty look in the child's eyes and she knew where he was intending to go. Bran had an affinity for climbing. He had also told her how his mother had forbid him from doing such a thing. She looked upon him with a stern glance.

"At least be careful, little one."

She watched Bran run off with his wolf at his heels, always a spirited pair. Johanna took a seat beside her sister and Sansa, speaking to the two girls. Johanna hated Sansa, and she was sure under a different circumstance she wouldn't but she was to marry Joffrey. Johanna could not stand the thought, and the young girl fawning over her brother did not make it any better for her.

"He is truly handsome." The young girl's friend had joined her and the pair would not shut up.

Johanna wished to like Sansa, the young girl was much like herself, but she couldn't. How could she? Sansa looked at Joffrey like he was the center of the world, but the truth was he was the center of Johanna's world. She may have been marrying him but Johanna had his love. Joffrey only loved her, just as she only loved Joff. No one silly little girl could change that.

"I wish you were coming to Kings Landing, Princess Johanna, I would love to get to know you better."

"I am sure I will visit,Lady Sansa, it is my home after all. I want to be there for the wedding of course."

Johanna really did want to be there for their wedding day. She hated the thought of Joff marrying, but she could never miss such a day in his life. She wanted to be beside him in such a big moment. She was having a hard enough time grasping that in a few weeks she would be leagues away from her best friend, love and twin brother. Johanna went to speak again when the howl of a wolf cut them all short. Johanna had heard the call of the wolves on her journey north, but this cry was different and it sent chills down her spine.

When Johanna was told Bran fell from the broken tower she sadly only had one thought. Uncle Jaime. She had seen her uncle at the tower only minutes before the young boy had gone off to climb. She sat in the guest hall eating with her family as her head swam with thoughts. She knew her uncle could never hurt a child, but she had heard tales of Bran's climbing skills. The boy had never fallen, never slipped. She ate in silence as her sister asked her mother nervous questions of the boy. Johanna could not sit there for long so she made her way to the hall where the Starks ate alone.

She found it empty,save a servant. Johanna asked where everyone was, and when she was told the children had retreated to their rooms she felt a pang of sadness. She could not imagine what the young children were going through. She asked of Lady Stark, being informed the woman had not let her son's side. Johanna took some food and made her way to the young Lord's sickroom.

"Lady Stark, may I come in?" Johanna kept her voice soft.

"If you wish."

Johanna was surprised by the sight before her. The Lady she had seen upon arriving in Winterfell was beautiful and now she was a just a shell of a woman. It had only been hours since Bran's fall and the woman was broken. Johanna placed the small plate of food in front of Lady Stark with a wry smile before finding a seat. She sat on the other side of the bed, taking Bran's hand in her own. She felt guilty, she blamed herself for the young boy's fall.

I pray to the Seven to keep this child safe. May they watch over him and return him to his family.

Johanna wished she had stopped Bran, she wished she had told him not to climb. Children were her weakness as she felt ashamed of herself for letting him disobey his mother. If she had been stern, been what she should have been, he would be awake and laughing at them.

"Lady Stark, I am so very sorry." Johanna knew no words would comfort the woman.

"Thank you, Princess."

Johana fidgeted uncomfortably, unsure of what to say to the woman. She held Bran's hand in hers, willing the boy to wake.

"My children adore you, save Arya she is a wild one. I don't know how you got my young sons to take to you so quickly." It seemed like a happy topic, but there was no joy in Lady Stark's voice.

"I am told I have a personality they makes children comfortable, but I don't know if I believe it. Honestly, I have just been taking care of children for some years now."

"Taking care of children how?"

Johanna could hear the honest curiosity in the Lady's tone. Johanna looked down at Bran, thinking for a moment. She had not spoken of the past in some time, her family never spoke of the past.

"When Tommen was four he became very ill. He was left alone in chambers to get better, forbidden to be visited by anyone. I was only ten then but I crept from my room one night and found myself in his chambers. I stayed there for two weeks taking care of him." Johanna looked at Bran and for a moment she saw her younger brother laying there. "They were so worried I would get sick but I never did, he just got better. After that I looked after him, and my sister. I felt a duty as their older sister."

"You shall make a good mother."

Johanna hoped it was true. She had been told her whole life she would make an excellent mother, and she just hoped it was not kind words. She loved children and she would love any child given to her by Robb Stark. She just hoped they were like her, and her family.

Johanna sat with Lady Stark in silence for hours, just holding Bran's hand. She had only spent a small time with the boy but it was easier for to grow attached to him. If she was never being forced to stay in Winterfell she would not have bothered with the children, but because she was to live there it was easy. She found peace in their company. The silence and her thoughts were broken when the door to the sickroom was opened.

"Mother."

Johanna and Lady Stark both turned to see Rickon standing in the doorway. Johanna could see the tears that were falling from his eyes. Lady Stark made no move toward the child, so Johanna got up.

"Rickon, it's late. Why don't we go to bed?" She looked to Lady Stark as she spoke, who gave her thankful nod.

"But Bran.."

"Come, little one."

Johanna took the boy's hand and began to lead him back to his chambers. Johanna did not even know how get back there, so she had to ask the child. She held his hand tight as he sobbed quietly beside her, the tears falling freely. She knew he was sad, his brother lay hanging between life and death. She wished to fix it, wished to take all the pain from Rickon.

"Now come on, into bed little one."

Rickon listened, nestling himself under the warm furs on his bed. She smiled to herself as the child curled up beside where she sat on the bed. She began to run her hand through his curls, trying to keep him calm. She ran her free hand along his back, trying to soothe crying.

"The Father's face is stern and strong,he sits and judges right from wrong. He weighs our lives, the short and long,and loves the little children,The Mother gives the gift of life,and watches over every wife. Her gentle smile ends all strife,and she loves her little children"

Johanna began to sing to the child, hoping the Song of the Seven could soothe his crying. As she continued to sing she kept running her fingers through his hair. She found peace as his breathing became even and a smile found her face. She would sing the song to Tommen when the boy could not sleep, and she was glad Rickon too found peace in the song.

"So you can sing."

Johanna jumped from the sudden voice, she did not know someone had entered the room. She turned from the child to see her future husband standing in the doorway.

"My Lord, you frightened me."

"That was not my intention, Princess. I came to check upon Rickon and to thank you."

Johanna looked down at the sleeping child. She stood from the bed and ushered the Lord from the chamber. She did not wish to stir the sleeping boy.

"He is sleeping now, he worries for Bran."

"We all do, princess, we all do." She saw the worry upon the young man's face. If he was her blood she would have reached out to him. "As I said I wished to thank you for being with my mother, if not for you she would have been alone."

Johanna smiled at the man gently.

"Of course, I have grown fond of Bran and I did not wish to see your mother sit alone."

For a moment they stood in the hallway silent. She was looking into his blue eyes while he looked somewhere else. She wished she could have been happy about the impending marriage, she wished she could. She wasn't happy though, because the only man she wished to marry was her own brother. She was a sickness.

"I have not seen you since the night you arrived."

Johanna had honestly hoped he had not noticed her absence.

"I am sorry, my Lord, but soon we shall be married." Two days.

"I would like to know you more before that. So may I ask a favor of you?"

Johanna regarded the man before her, a mischievous grin upon her face. She felt worry flood through her. What could he possibly ask of her? She was a stranger to him.

"What is it, my Lord."

"Come on a walk with me through the Wolfswood tonight. My brother, friend and I need to escape the castle for a while, come with us."

Johanna looked down the hall toward the exit, toward where her chamber lay. She could say no, she could turn and find her way to her own bed. She wanted to say no, she did not wish to go into the woods with him. He was kind enough but her mother's warning rang in her head, but there was something in his eyes. He looked down at her with such compassion, and true curiosity.

"It is much too late at night, I fear."

"Please, Princess, it will be one of our last chances to get to know each other." He wore such a genuine kind smile. "I promise I will be proper. I truly just wish to know my future wife."

His voice was so gentle, not a hint of malcontent. She knew he would not hurt her, and they would not be alone. She had alarm bells going off in her head, hearing Joffrey's voice ringing in her ears. She knew he would be furious if she went on the walk, but she did not wish to upset the Lord. He was to be her husband, and if she wished for a better marriage then her mother, she should at least try.

"Alright, but it'll be much too cold I should get a shawl."

"Stay here, I will fetch you a cloak. Not mine this time, of course, one of my sisters."

He was gone before she could argue with him. As she stood outside of Rickon's door Johanna found herself praying to the Seven. She prayed for their blessing and their protection. Her last small prayer was that by the time she got back Joffrey was sound asleep in his own bed, she wished not to face him.