First off, I want to apologize for taking so long to update this. Thank you to Princess Rosalind of Underland, RhaenaTargaryen, jacobssibling, and everyone from reddit for all the reviews.

I've decided this fic is gonna have a sister fic called Lions in the Red Keep, where you guys can read about the havoc the lions are causing (and maybe some cute moments with them too, but mostly havoc)

And also, for those of you who read this fic when it was on ao3, this chapter here is all new. I'd felt bad at the time not writing about another night Jaime had with Cersei, so here's what happened that night before Jaime and Euron had their run in about the lions, if any of you remember that from back when this was on ao3.

jacobssibling, I can't recall if I replied to all your reviews in PM's here or not but I'll reply to them here too some. Thank you so much for reviewing all the chapters!

"Alright so Euron is dead... you mentioned Qyburn too, is he alive?"

Qyburn is alive in the fic both currently and in the prologue! :) I love him and his father-daughter type relationship with Cersei so he's probably going to live in this fic!

""He would see reason in time. Would see that what she had done, she'd done for them" Making me very curious! What did she do?"

That will be revealed once the time in the fic catches up to where she is in the prologue. But suffice it to say she's killed people, some of which Jaime may not have wanted dead or believed was honorable of her to kill! I may not exactly have even decided who she killed, but considering the rainbow of colors, at least one yellowed haired, one black-haired, and one red-haired person. So I guess either Sansa or Tormund is dying lol.

"Is Maester Death going to turn a couple thousand small folk into that?" Honestly not a bad idea.. might be a lot of work tho.

It would be way too much work, but I think my Utopia fic (I believe you read and reviewed that one) does go down that very disturbing path!

"Had no idea smut wasn't allowed anymore on ffn. How stupid.."

Yeah. I think a lot of people just ignore that rule though. I wonder if I'd be safe ignoring it to in the future. But ff. net doesn't warn, they just go right to removing, so I don't want to risk it.

"Glad he's not going North! I really hated that he left her in the show."

Me too, and it seemed so OOC for him. In the books I can see why he left and it's not for honor, its because she screwed other men. If the show wanted his leaving to be in char they should have had him find out about Lancel.

"Will you give your word to me that you will stand by me, supporting me in my quest for the throne, no matter what happens?" Why won't he answer? I suppose he can't say he will support anything she does no matter what .. he wouldn't mean it..

Yeah, unfortunately, he wouldn't. If she goes crazy and kills innocents he def wouldn't. Though I don't think he'd ever do to her what Jon did to Dany! Least not for that reason.

""He was in shock. She never came to him. It was always the other way around." I just find that very fitting."

Thank you! I actually got that from a line in the book, I think it was before the sept scene where Jaime thinks that.

And I'm so glad the smut you read on the other site came across well! :)

"I wish you wouldn't be so negative" I mean their odds don't seem great.. I know they win in this fic but I still have no idea how they did it (and I'm very curious about it!).

I don't want to spoil, but let's just say Cersei (and Qyburn) are very crafty.

"A longer chapter! Love it!"

You'll really love this one then, cause it's even longer! :D

"The girl would have made a lovely bride for the undead Gregor Clegaine." Damn, that would have been quite something..

I was honestly surprised the show didn't go that route lol.

Very smart of her to admit that it used to be true and just say that it over now because of Tommen's death. It's a lot more believable than if she'd denied their relationship ever existed.

Yeah. Euron's not the sharpest tool in the shed, but he'd still know that it was a lie if she tried to deny it ever happened.

Oh she's getting the lions from Euron! That's actually surprisingly thoughtful of him.

Yup. It will also fuel some of Jaime's jealousy too. For multiple reasons, Jaime isn't gonna be too happy about these lions! There will be a lot of hilarity with him and the lions.

I know I said I didn't like Euron (and I don't) but he was very entertaining here. The banter and flirting between him and Cersei is fun to read. I'm curious about the names Cersei will give the lions. Hope you'll find the time and motivation to update this at some point :)

Thank you! Will be a while till their names are revealed, but hopefully you'll like them.

"Cersei!" Exclaimed Jaime. He'd heard a rumor - a terrible rumor, and he needed to know now that it wasn't true.

Cersei glared up at him, frowning as water dripped from her skin. "What are you doing? You cannot just barge into my chambers like this!"

"I can, and I-"

"How did you get past my guards?" She interrupted.

He watched as she took a sip of wine from the glass beside her tub. The soap bubbles covering her did little to hide her breasts, but right now, he was too angry to pay any mind to that. "Are the rumors true?" He asked in as calm of a voice as he could muster.

"How did you get past my guards?" She asked again, glaring at him as she set her wine glass down. "I told them not to let anyone in under any circumstances."

"Why would you do that? Wanting to be alone with your one true love?" He asked, eying her wine glass with disdain.

"And what if I did?" She asked, taking another sip.

"You aren't supposed to be drinking! You're pregnant!"

"Calm yourself, brother. It's just apple cider. Now, one final time, I will ask you. How did you make it past my guards?"

He took her wine glass and drank the rest, ignoring her protests. To his surprise, it was indeed apple cider. "The guards that you oh so very carefully chose are several feet from your chamber door, playing dice. But that-"

"They are what?!"

He let out a heavy sigh. The guards' incompetence was not his concern right now. "That is-"

"I will have their heads for this utter lack of competence!" She exclaimed, rising up.

He averted his eyes. The only thing more arousing than a naked Cersei was an angry naked Cersei, and he did not come here for that.

"Don't just stand there! Bring me my clothes," she demanded.

"I am not your servant!"

Without even bothering to wrap a nearby towel around her, she shoved past him, dripping water all over the floor. "Fine. Leave me then. I am not in the mood tonight."

"You're...not in the mood?" he said, insulted that she assumed he came here for that.

"No. I'm not. My cunt is dryer than the sands of Dorne right now."

"I did not come here for sex!" He yelled, further infuriated by her cluelessness.

"What then?" She asked.

"Did you think the news would not reach me?" He asked, following her into her closet.

"News? What news?" She asked, seeming more concerned with fastening her robe.

"About you marrying Euron!" He yelled.

"Oh, that," she said, walking past him once again.

"What do you mean, oh that?" He asked, grabbing her by the arm.

She turned towards him, her annoyance obvious. "I don't truly intend to marry him. He just needs to think that I do."

"And why would he need to think such a thing?"

"Let me go," she said sternly.

"Answer me first," he replied, digging his nails in just the tiniest bit in defiance.

"He's just about fed up with waiting. It was either that or fuck him. Would you rather I do the latter?"

"I'd rather you not concern yourself at all with placating that fool!"

"If you must insist on having this futile discussion, it will have to wait until after I chastise my guards for being insipid lazy fools."

"Of course, My Queen," he replied back sarcastically, letting her go.

She didn't even bother to shut the door behind her, so he got a full view of her fury - directed thankfully at the guards this time.

"You two! What do you think you're doing?!"

Jaime watched as the two distracted guards, one sitting with his back against the wall and the other facing him, anxiously met the eyes of their Queen. "My Queen, I apologize, but we've been watching your door the whole time," said one of the guards. Jaime recognized this guard. His name was Emerson, and from the little he could remember, he was the son of a farmer.

"And nobody entered my chambers this evening?"

"Only the maid from earlier to prepare your bath, My Queen," replied Emerson.

"How is your eyesight?"

"Quite well, My Queen, except sometimes things are blurry up close, but I-"

"I'm asking because you are either blind or you weren't paying attention. Ser Jaime entered my chambers, uninvited mere minutes ago!"

"Ah, I remember now. I had to visit the privy. Remember, you permitted us such rights twice per shift, so long as one guard remained to watch over your chamber."

"He's lying, My Queen! It was I who visited the privy just minutes ago!" interjected the other guard, whose name Jaime couldn't recall.

"You're both lying. My brother saw "

Both guards murmured their apologies, but she was obviously having none of it. "Tomorrow, you two shall fight, and whoever is the victor may remain in my service. The other shall serve as lion food for my cubs. And I'll be taking these," she said, grabbing the dice off the floor before calling for other guards to come and arrest the two.

—-

You are really going to make them fight to the death?" he asked as Cersei shut the door behind her.

She pushed past him and took a seat on the bed. "Are you upset? What did you think would happen when you told me about their foolishness?"

He followed her to her bed and sat down next to her. "Not upset, just surprised. Both are incompetent fools, and from what I saw, neither has the attention span to be a King's Guard."

She glanced at him and smirked. "Good point. I'll have them both killed then."

"That would be a waste!"

She yawned. Whether because she was tired, or to inform him this conversation was boring her, he could not tell. "Would it now? They'd make rather nice meals for the cubs," she said.

"Well, you've been wanting a trainer for those cubs, haven't you?"

"Of course, but as of yet, I can find no one willing," she replied, sighing in frustration.

The two lion tamers she had sent word to were, as he remembered, much to Cersei's ire, currently in The North helping fight the White Walkers. "I've talked enough with the one guard to know that his father owned a farm, with cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens, and every other animal you'd expect. Perhaps he could tame them," he said.

"I hardly think being a farmer's son would be sufficient experience for dealing with such marvelous beasts," she scoffed.

"Surely it would be better than nothing. Herding sheep, herding lions, how different can it be?"

"Are you a fool? They need somebody with experience in the circus. Not a simple farmer's son. A lion is no sheep!"

"Well, somebody needs to do something about them. Half the time you have them running amok in the Red Keep. Do you know how many things they've destroyed?"

Her expression changed from annoyance to confusion. "Why do you care? They haven't bothered you or your chambers, have they?"

"No, though I fear it's only a matter of time before they do. It's just, well, it's rather a miracle that they haven't killed anybody yet."

"That is quite unfortunate, but they're still young. I'm not sure I even want them tamed. Perhaps a true lion can't be tamed," she replied, sounding proud, much to his annoyance.

"So you want them to eat you one day, then?"

"They would never! They know who ensures they are fed! Besides, they are rather fond of me. The small one lay her head in my lap the other day."

He rolled his eyes. "They're young now. What do you think is going to happen when they are full-grown and their hunting instinct takes over?"

"And you think some farmer's son who grew up herding sheep and milking cows can prevent that?"

"Maybe. Maybe not. It's worth a try, isn't it?"

"Well, I suppose so. At least when he fails, it will be amusing hearing his screams." She paused, then gave a small smile. "Do you think they could be taught tricks too, like the ones at the circus?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Weren't you just a second ago saying you weren't even sure you wanted them tamed, and now you're wondering if it can teach them to jump through a hoop?"

"Jaime, don't test my patience! It was just a thought. Nevermind that. It's late. I should be getting some sleep."

"It's barely past suppertime," he protested. "And this conversation isn't finished."

She yawned again and removed her robe as she replied, "Very well then. I will let one guard train them, and I suppose the other can clean up after them. Now, unless you want to fluff my pillows for me, leave me."

"I meant our earlier conversation. About Euron Greyjoy."

She tucked herself into bed before bothering to reply back, "There is nothing more to discuss regarding that matter. We need his men, his ships, and his scorpions. He may be a fool, but we need him for now. Why do you concern yourself with a wedding that I have assured you will never take place?"

"Forgive me if I'm having trouble trusting you right now, given that you promised me you would tell all the realm the truth regarding who is the father of your child."

Guilt flashed in her eyes. "I never expected things to go on for this long. I'd thought we'd either defeat her or die trying. I could not have foreseen that usurper would fuck off to the North to fight some ancient evil!"

He laid down next to her on his side, but over, rather than under the covers, before asking his next question; the reason he had come here tonight. "What are your plans if it takes much longer for the war against the dead to either be won or lost?"

"It's not something I'd considered. Surely, with her having the might of two dragons, and tens of thousands of soldiers, she can defeat some undead abomination in a matter of days. We should have about a month, perhaps two if she takes time to recover, before she's back here with her depleted army."

"But what if you're wrong? What if the battle takes months?"

"Then I suppose in that case her army will be even further depleted, or the dead will be the ones marching here. And we'll have built even more scorpions by then. Her dragons, if they still live, will stand no chance."

"She isn't my only concern. How do you expect to hide this for months?" He asked, placing his hand over the part of the blanket which rested on her midsection.

"It's getting colder. I'll simply wear heavy, loose clothing," she replied matter-of-factly.

"Yeah, that's not risky at all. Even Euron isn't that stupid; he'll figure out why you're wearing such loose clothing."

"He won't. Not if I make everyone do so."

"Let's say that plan works - which I strongly doubt - what happens when the baby is born? Do you plan to hide it in some corner of the Red Keep?"

She wrestled free of the covers and left the bed, before glaring down at him. "How dare you suggest such a thing!"

"Well, what then?"

She paced back and forth for a moment before finally turning to him and answering. "I'd offer the Iron Islands independence and marry you. He'd have little choice but to accept and remain my ally."

He stood up, walked to her, and grabbed her hand. "Why not do that now?" He asked, hating how desperate he sounded.

She accepted the touch, making no move to escape from him. "I need him close. To make sure he doesn't betray me."

"Betray you to who?" He asked incredulously. "Everyone is dead, or sided with the Targaryen!"

She wrangled her hand free from his grasp and moved away from him, turning her back towards him. "He could sail off, leaving me without his ships and scorpions, which we need if we're to defeat her."

The worry in her voice didn't escape him, but he was certain he could reassure her. "He won't sail off! Daenerys is allied with his niece and nephew, both of whom he wants to see suffer. Offer him the Iron Islands' independence and help with defeating those two - offer him that, and I'm sure he will stay allied with you at least until then. And once he's outlived his usefulness, we can just kill him."

She turned towards him finally. "If it takes that dragon whore so long to deal with that monstrosity, then your plan is adequate. I will not do anything to risk our child's future. I'll even offer Euron the North, to further entice him."

He walked towards her until he stood right in front of her. "I still do not see why you cannot do that now."

"For the same reason that I will not kill him now. It's risky. Maybe not as risky as I'd first thought, but risky nonetheless."

"It isn't risky! As I just said-"

"Euron Greyjoy and the Targaryen aren't the only threats that I am worried about," she interrupted.

"What? What else could you possibly be concerned with?" He asked.

"The smallfolk. They despise me and my rule. They are much more endured to Euron, for some reason that I cannot comprehend."

"You fear an uprising, then?" He asked, concerned. He placed his hand over hers and gave a reassuring squeeze. "They'd stand no chance against you," he said, though, in truth, he wasn't so sure.

"I fear nothing," she replied, though from how anxious she sounded, he doubted that. "I'm merely being cautious. They hate the dragon whore even more than me. They'll be much more accepting of my rule when under my command, King's Landing is protected from her tyranny."

"And accepting of us marrying? Or is that no longer to be?" He asked.

She smiled at him, a genuine smile, not the smirk he'd grown accustomed to as of late. "Of course, we will marry. I have magnificent plans for us. The small folk will view us as a romance to aspire to when I am finished with them."

He eyed her silently with a doubtful expression, which did not go unnoticed by her.

"I have something that will erase all of your doubts. Though I can't see why I should show you now. It was supposed to be a surprise after the war was won," she said. "Come."

He followed her to a large chest in the room's corner. She bent down, pulling back the rug which the chest rested on, and emerged with a key. She stood before the chest, key in hand.

"Make no mistake regarding the items in this chest. I care not what the small people think of me or us, I simply am appeasing them because the Red Keep doesn't have enough cells, nor I enough men to kill or maim all who defy us." Nodding to the chest, she handed him the key. "Open if you wish."

Taking the key, he sat down. He unlocked the chest, wondering what it might contain that would change how the small folk viewed their forbidden relationship.

Upon opening the chest, he found what looked to be a large piece of yellow fabric. He gave Cersei a look, unsure if he should touch it.

"Go ahead, just be careful. I can't very well wear a wrinkled cloak to our wedding."

Carefully, he unfolded it and laid it out on the floor in front of him. "A…a Baratheon house cloak? But you hated Robert. Why would you want to wear his cloak?"

"Well, we can't very well have you remove a Lannister cloak, only to replace it with another Lannister cloak. That would be utterly ridiculous. Besides, I think it rather amusing that the fat boar will, in some small way, be a part of our wedding."

"That's... well... fine... but how will this help how the small folk see us?"

"That is only one smart part of things. I suffered Robert's abuse and bastard children for years. I need to remind them of that. The cloak is symbolic. It's me finally shedding the bonds of my terrible marriage."

"The small folk loved Robert," he reminded her.

"Robert's been dead for enough years that I doubt they will love him anymore, especially after the tale I will spin. But that is hardly all. Look inside again."

He spotted a stack of papers with writing on them. "What is this?" He asked.

"I had a minstrel write our story into a beautiful song."

He grabbed the large stack of papers. "It must be one very long song."

"No, only the first two or three pages are the song. Below that are pages of a play I am writing."

He looked up at her and raised an eyebrow at that. "You're writing a play?"

"I have to occupy my time with something. I can only redecorate and walk around the gardens so much," she said, shrugging as though it were no big deal.

"Do you plan to run away to the free cities and find work as a playwright?" He asked, baffled.

"Of course not! This is our story. With some minor changes, of course. I plan to hire performers. Everyone will view our love as something romantic when I am finished with things."

He smiled, impressed that she had gone to such lengths. "Can I read it?" He asked, curiously.

"If it pleases you," she said, sounding somewhat nervous.

As she stood over him, he began to read, noting that the story seemed to begin with her awful wedding night to Robert, and her subsequent disappointment when the fat boar called out Lyanna's name. That part, at least, was true. What followed it was, though not entirely lies, half-truths, and exaggerations. He wasn't sure whether he felt more worried that she could easily ink lies onto paper or more flattered that she would go to such lengths for him.

He read a few more pages until he got to a part about them sharing a kiss, and her noting that it had been their first. "Our first kiss was long before Robert ever hit you!" He protested, looking up at her.

"What do you think the small folk will find more romantic, the truth, or that you were my protector, my only bright spot, in an abusive, neglectful marriage, and then it turned into something more?"

"Fair point. Shall I read more?"

"I suppose so. Not too much more, though, I am actually tired."

He skimmed through the next few pages until he got to their first intimate encounter, and then he stood up, papers in hand, and walked over to the bed where she now lay. "None of this is very accurate, you know. We didn't exactly avoid each other out of guilt for weeks following our first time together, nor was our first intimate encounter after your marriage."

"It doesn't need to be accurate. The truth is what we make it."

"I don't think truth works that way," he replied dryly, taking a seat next to her.

She sat up, giving him a hurt look. "And here I thought you'd be happy that I'd gone to such efforts."

"I am. It is rather romantic, that you wrote a love story about us," He said, smiling. "But if you're gonna write a play, I want to write my own song. I could still write a ballad about us."

"If you continue this and the ballad is called 'The War for Cersei's Cunt,' I will slap you just as I did all those years ago."

He placed his hand gently on her cheek. "Very well then, but for the record, I think our real story is rather romantic itself."

"Of course, I agree, but I don't think it will endure the small folk to us if we tell them that we shared our first kiss when we were mere children."

"Their loss, then," he replied. He paused, then asked softly, "So you really intend to marry me, then?"

"Marry you and tell the truth of our child's parentage," she replied.

With that, he placed his lips on hers. Despite her claims mere moments ago of being tired, she returned his kiss with equal fervor, and it wasn't long before she was on top of him, embracing him with passion.

Afterward, he held her in his arms for a while before making a move to leave.

She grabbed his arm. "Stay."

"What if someone sees me leave in the morning?"

"I don't care. I'm the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. I'll-"

"Do as I please, I know. But, what of Euron?" He asked.

"What of Euron? He's a late sleeper. The man is never up until hours past dawn. Besides that, no one would dare breathe a word to him. You'll leave when you wake in the morning."

That was enough assurance for him. He smiled and lay down next to her. They soon shifted into their favorite sleeping position: the fetal position, foreheads touching, hands entwined. She fell asleep first, and he watched her in the moonlight for several moments before closing his eyes and joining her in slumber.