Chapter 3

Gendry Baratheon POV

I sneak out of Arya's window and walk to where I parked my car. I parked it a few blocks away, I know better than to park it in front of her house. I love Arya so much, she's the only one I would ever take this risk for. I'd love to get more serious with her, but I know she's too young to be ready for or understand that.

I wanted to have sex with her so badly tonight, but I knew it would be wrong and would just increase the chances of us getting caught. I'm not sure if I'll be able to hold out again next time if we do this again.

Once I drive home, I realize I'm not tired. I give Podrick a call and he surprisingly answers. "Hello?" He asks, sounding surprised but not sleepy.

"Hey," I say. "Are you awake?"

"Yeah," he says. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, I just left Arya's place."

"Really? It's almost 3 a.m."

"I know," I say. "I snuck in there after her parents went to sleep."

"Damn, that's risky," Podrick says. "Was Jon with Dany?"

"Yeah," I say. "I wouldn't go there if he was in the same house."

"At least you have that much sense," Pod says. "But why are you calling me."

"I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep yet," I say. "I was wondering if you wanted to go smoke with me."

"I'm really tired," Podrick says. "I was about to go to sleep, but we can talk a little more."

"Okay, I get it that's fine. How's Myrcella doing?"

"She's good," he responds. "She misses Sansa, but we've been spending a lot of time together which has been nice."

"That's good, I hope Sansa is having a good time at camp. I'll have to hear from Arya how it was when she gets back."

"Yeah," Podrick says. "So did you and Arya hook up with her parents and younger siblings in the same house?"

"No," I say. "She wanted to, and I honestly did too but I knew it would be too risky so I said no."

"That was smart," he says. "I think I'm going to go to bed, sorry I couldn't talk for long."

"It's okay," I say. "Bye, Pod."

"Bye."

I go inside and eventually fall asleep. I love Arya, and I'm glad I went over there despite the risk. I wish Jon could see how much I truly love her and how much I know she cares about me. She's one of my best friends and she's so fun to be around, I get along better with her than I ever did with Margaery.

I hope we'll always be friends. Honestly, I hope Arya and I will always be together. Either way, I hope we're always friends no matter where our relationship goes. I'm just glad we can spend so much time together this summer.

Jon Snow Stark POV

Sam and I are meeting for lunch today, it's been way too long since we've seen each other. I don't even talk to him much anymore, and I don't like that. I let Sam know I'm outside and he comes out of the apartment.

"Are you sure you can afford lunch today?" I ask as he gets into the car. "I can pay for us both if you need me to."

"That's okay, I really don't need that," Sam says. We drive out of his complex. "I work a lot and my dad has actually been really helpful with money when we need it."

"Has he been coming around at all?" I ask him. "I know you said he was a little more supportive lately."

"Yeah, he really is," Sam says. "We don't need help with money often, but he and my mom are both really helpful when we do."

"I'm really glad, it really sucked when he was so disapproving of Gilly."

"He's still a little distant from her," Sam says. "I still think he wishes I had picked someone he approves of more, but he can mostly put his differences aside for his grandson."

"I guess he still doesn't know the truth about Baby Sam?"

"No, and he never will. No one ever should, not even Baby Sam."

He's right about that, it's such a dark history and Baby Sam doesn't deserve to have that burden on him. I hope he never finds out on his own, I know that would be really hard for him to come to terms with.

We go to a local cafeteria where you can eat a lot of food for not much money. We wait in line and pay before sitting down.

"How's Robb?" Sam asks me.

"He's good," I say. "They're baby is adorable, they named him Eddard."

"Aw, that's so sweet," Sam says. "I've just been thinking about him more since our kids were born around the same time."

It's so weird to hear him say "our kids." It's crazy to me how people not that far from our age are having kids.

"He's going to come visit this summer sometime, I'm just not sure when," I say. "Maybe the boys can meet then."

"That would be great," Sam says. "Built-in buddies." I chuckle at that, it's a really cute idea to think about.

"Are you guys planning any summer trips?" Sam asks me after a pause. "I know your dad likes to plan those for the summers sometimes."

"Not that I know of, but you never know. Sometimes there's something last-minute he'll plan."

"Have you and Dany found a place?"

"Not officially," I say. "We looked at a place the other day, but we have another to look at soon and Dany wasn't sure about the size."

"How big was it?"

"It was a studio," I say. "We have another one to look at that's a one-bedroom."

"I'm glad you're moving in together," Sam says. "I want it to work out between you guys."

"Me too."

"Is Robb upset that you're not at his school anymore?"

"No," I say. "We don't see each other much anyway since he's married and has a baby now. I thought my dad would be more upset, but he's okay with it now that he knows I didn't rush into it. I think that was his biggest concern."

"That makes sense," Sam says. "I'm glad everyone is supportive."

It's so weird that the most important things in our lives used to be rock climbing and sometimes girls, and now our priorities have shifted so much in just a couple of years. It's really surreal that he has a family now, but I'm happy for him. I'm glad we can still stay close despite all the changes that have happened, I hope we always are close to some extent.

Samwell Tarly POV

I love Gilly and I love my son, but it was still nice to have some time with Jon. I feel like I don't have very much time to do stuff with friends anymore now that I'm a father. I wouldn't trade it for anything, but it still can be draining. I never complain, though. I know it's ten times more draining for Gilly than it is for me.

Jon and I go back to my place, he wants to say hi to Gilly and the baby. Our friends and I might all hang out as a group at some point with Gilly and Ygritte, but I'm not sure when or if that'll be able to happen. We walk into my place and Gilly is on the couch with Baby Sam, I walk over and take him from her.

"Hi, Sammy," Jon says, walking over to me. I wave Sam's little baby arm at Jon. "Remember me? I'm your uncle Jon."

"He remembers," I say. "See? He's smiling." Jon doesn't look convinced, but makes funny faces at Baby Sam anyway.

"Hi, Gilly," he says. "How are you?"

"I'm good," she says. "Much better than I was last time you saw me, being a new mom really was taking a toll back then."

"I bet," Jon says, sitting next to her. "How old is Baby Sam now?"

"He's 6 months," she says. "I can't believe it, he's huge." The baby and I sit next to Jon.

"He is, he's so big," Jon says. "I wish I could've seen him more after he was born."

"We were really getting used to a routine and everything," I say. "We wouldn't have been free as much as you might think."

"That makes sense," Jon says. "I still wish I had reached out more, I'm sorry I didn't. Robb told me how isolating it can be being a new parent, and I don't want you to think I was dropping you."

"I know you weren't," I say. "It was isolating, but we had each other and that was the most important part."

"Is Sam a good dad?" Jon asks Gilly.

"He's a much better father than I could've ever asked or hoped for," Gilly says. "I got so lucky, I love our little family."

"You guys are so cute," Jon says. "And that's good, you can tell me any time if Sam gets out of line and I'll straighten him out." Jon and Gilly laugh at that, I'm glad they get along.

"I hope you get a break sometimes too, though," Jon says after a pause. "I hope you don't get too overwhelmed."

"I get overwhelmed sometimes, but I do get breaks," Gilly says. "Sometimes Ygritte comes over to hang out with us and the baby, or Sam watches him so she and I can go out for ice cream or something for just a little bit."

"I'm glad to hear that," Jon says. "Maybe we can all get together with Tormund and Dany if you guys could find someone to watch Baby Sam."

"My dad probably would," I say. "But I'm not sure that's a good idea."

"Sam, it's been years," Jon says. "I think we can all be adults now, and we can't just all hang out as a group and exclude Gilly's best friend. That wouldn't be right."

I know he's right, but I'm more worried about Ygritte being immature than anyone else. She's always been one to act without thinking. I know she means a lot to Gilly and she's been really helpful, but acting mature hasn't always been her strong suit.

"I suppose," I say. "If it works out and Dany is fine with it, then I don't see why not. Maybe we can also invite Podrick, his girlfriend and Sansa."

It does sound fun, I do want us to all get together again. I just think it would be less awkward with more people there, but hopefully Jon is right about us being mature and being able to act like adults now.