12 years later

"Will she bring her dragons?" Rodrick asked Ben, his voice light and hopeful.

"No, stupid." Ben replied. A hand smacked the back of his head.

Kyria, 16, bent in front of Ben, looking at him carefully.

"Ben, you are the heir of this castle, and about to be the oldest boy." she said, her voice dangerous. She wore a dark blue dress, with a white sash. Her dark curls, so much like her fathers, spilled over the table where she bent down in front of him. "You need to be kind."

He rolled his eyes, in the typical 13 year old boy way. She mussed his hair, which he hadn't cut in a long while. Serena was beside him, working quietly on her schoolwork. She chewed on the end of her quill, reading carefully. Her white hair was pulled away from her face, in an intricate braid, which Aunt Alys helped her with each morning. Rodrick sat on the other side of the table, also with schoolwork in front of him. The Stark children, minus Aden, were diligently finishing their schoolwork early, in order to be caught up for the Queen's visit. Kyria had finished long before any of them, and ususally circulated, helping the others do their work quicker.

Arya sat at the end of the table, her red hair in twin braids. She was using a piece of twine to launch balled up pieces of paper into the fire. Kyria shot her a look, and Arya looked back down at her paper, groaning.

The door open, and they all looked up, hopeful for a distraction. Bran rolled in, his face heavily bearded, his eyes glowing with merriment.

"The banners have appeared on the horizon." he announced. "She's nearly here."

Everyone scrambled towards the door, out to the courtyard. Sansa stood waiting, beside Alys, and she waved her brood towards her, grinning.

She bent, straightening the dress of Arya, who'd managed to get it completely crumpled and stained since she'd put it on that morning.

Through the gates, Jon rode, Aden at his side. Aden had grown into a young man that resembled Robb so much, both Sansa and Jon had called him that accidently in anger at one point or another. He was extremely popular with the ladies, his ginger hair turning much more golden, his exotic Targaryen eyes so unusual in the North. He was tall, like Ned, and as deft with a sword as his father. Jon said something to Aden the others couldn't hear, and Aden leaned his head back, laughing merrily.

He swung down from the horse, joining his mother and siblings.

Jon dismounted as well, and gave Sansa a questioning look. She looked more nervous than he'd seen in a long time, and her hands couldn't keep still. He approached her, taking her arm.

"What is it?"

"Are you not recalling the last time we had a Queen visit Winterfell?" she asked. He grinned, and nodded.

"Nearly 27 years ago? Yes, this does bring up some odd nostalgia, I must admit." he looked at the lined up group of children. "But...so much has changed, Sansa. This is a different queen, and only one child is leaving."

He leaned forward, kissing her on the cheek softly. She gave him a brave smile, but still felt the nerves in her stomach tumbling. Not only was this bringing back some unpleasant memories, but she was also about to lose her first born. Not forever, of course, but Aden was finally moving to the Capital, to begin learning his tasks to become King. There, he would marry, and work side by side with Daenerys.

Aden walked over to his mother, looking down at her.

"You're worried." he said, his voice deep, now.

"Can you blame me?" she asked. "I'm about to lose my son."

"I wasn't aware I was being sent to my death." he said with a wry smile. "And like she's said...and I've said...over and over...you can come with. You can stay with us, mother."

"My home is here." she said softly. "As is yours. Don't ever forget that."

"I couldn't." he said. He took his hands in hers, and kissed them. She felt tears blossoming at the back of her eyes. "And anyways, I don't leave for another week. So please try and keep your tears to a minimum, for today."

She laughed, and sniffed.

The gates parted, and in rode Daenerys, followed by her court, all mostly on horseback. None of the younger children had met her in person yet, so they all watched her with wide eyes. She dismounted, and walked forward, hugging Sansa first, and then Jon. Finally, she reached for Aden.

"Are you excited?" she asked, arching a brow.

"Nervous." he said. "You remember Kyria?" he asked, and Kyria stepped forward, curtsying.

"I hear you're to be the first woman Maester." Daenerys said. "Fitting, I think, in times like these."

"That's the plan." Kyria said softly, blushing, her shyness taking over.

"And then my other siblings, Bennard and Serena, the twins, and then Rodrick, and finally, Arya."

They all bowed as they were introduced by their eldest brother.

"Are you hungry?" Aden asked. "We just hunted yesterday, and have a boar roasting for you."

"Wonderful." Queen Daenerys said. "I'd love to sit with you, and catch up with you." she looked pointedly at Jon and Sansa.

The week flew by faster than she wanted. Before she knew it, Aden was loading up his horse, for an early morning departure.

Sansa stood in the dim dawn mist, shivering in the furs she wore. Jon was by her side, holding her hand, rubbing his thumb along the back of it. Kyria lingered behind them, her eyes still bleary from sleep. The other siblings had said goodbye the night before, but the trio wanted to see him one last time before he left.

"This story isn't over." Jon said. "It's just the end of a chapter."

"It's a nice chapter." she said. She shut her eyes, thinking of her sweet Aden, assuring her to be brave, at age 6, beside her in the bed in Kings Landing. Protecting his little sister, and siblings later. Besting his father at a swordfight at 12. Standing in front of her, sword brandished, at 14, when Lord Karstark had become too mouthy with her. At 17, coming back from the village drunk, covered in makeup from the girls he'd been drinking with. And now, standing before her, tall and handsome and broad shouldered. His sword, Snowclaw, at his hip.

"You'll write?" she asked up at him.

"Of course." he said. "Every chance I get. And you'll visit?"

"By the end of season." she assured him. "When the frost sets in, we will head South."

"Be safe." Sansa whispered. "Listen to Dany, and Tyrion."

He arched a brow, but nodded a moment later.

Jon stepped forward, and threw his arms around his son. Aden closed his eyes, relishing the feel.

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do." he said.

"That doesn't leave a lot of room for fun." Aden replied dryly. Jon smacked him on the shoulder.

"Perhaps the next time I see you, I'll be required to curtsy." Kyria said as she stepped forward, taking Aden's hands.

"You ever curtsy at me, I'll knock you in your pretty little head." he warned. "You write, if any men try any funny business."

"I think I can rely on papa for that, but if I require any dragons, I'll be sure to send a raven." she said. She smiled at him. "I love you, big brother."

"And I love you, little sister." he said.

Sansa was crying in earnest now, although trying to contain herself.

"If you ever change your mind, I'll be waiting in the Red Keep for you all." Aden said as he mounted the horse.

"And if you change your mind, we'll be here." Jon replied. Sansa turned, burying her face into Jon's shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her.

Aden turned the horse away, and out the gates he rode.

Kyria took Jon's hand, and looked at her parents. She wanted to remember this moment, and was sure she would, for a long time to come.

THE END.

A/N: Well, that's it guys. Thank you all so much for being such wonderful and loyal readers. I might do an eventual sequel, following the lives of Jon and Sansa's children...if I get really bored. Thank you again, I adore you all, and make sure the author subscribe if you'd like updates on further fics, and review if you enjoyed the work. Much much much love XXXXX Shiloh