A/N: HEY GUYS! Here's another chapter of Here We Stand :D!

Now, I just wanted to warn you that the majority of this chapter is in Jon's POV and then it'll move onto Lyra's. Also, the topic of the awful moonblood (menstrual cycle) happens in this chapter as well. Sorry for any who are sensitive about this topic in any way possible. I also wanted to say that how it affects Lyra is how it affects me as well. So, if there are any other girls who get this way, know that you're not alone in that regard. I know that girls of NOBILITY in the world of Game of Thrones don't get theirs until they are either 12-14 years old (which also happens in the real world too). However, I made it to where Lyra was considered an "early bloomer" at only 11-years-old. If you have seen how Dakota Blue Richards, the actress I picked for her, looks now, then it would make a whole lot of sense to do it that way.

Moving onto Jon, now he was a bit of a rollercoaster in his thoughts and feelings in this chapter as he would be until some sort of security for his feelings for Lyra happens. She'll end up surprising him that's for sure. Hehe.

Now, that's out of the way, I hope you all enjoy reading this next chapter of Here we Stand :D!

Chapter III

Jon made his way to his father's solar. It had been a year since his feelings for Lyra have grown above being just friends. With his 14th name-day being so near, he needed reassurance from his father. Reassurance that his feelings weren't just fleeting and substantial to being a growing boy with lustful desires. Though those were plenty in his dreams much to his chagrin.

He knocked on the large wooden door three times before waiting for his father's consent to enter. Once he had it, Jon found that his feet had taken him in front of his father's desk. Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North. A position that should have went to his brother, Brandon Stark, but here he is doing the work he wasn't supposed to do honoring his family's memory. Jon hoped to live up to his father's legacy someday.

"Is something the matter Jon?"

His dark gray eyes looked into the lighter Stark gray of his fathers. Jon knew that he very rarely came here. So, to see the concern on his father's face was understandable and within reason. He gulped nervously not sure on how to begin.

"Father, I … it's about Lyra. I … "

Somehow, the older man knew what he was trying to say with what little he was able to get out of his mouth.

"You've started to fancy her haven't you Jon?"

"Aye, yes sir."

"I see." Eddard looked at him with a gently appraising look in his eyes as his feet kept shuffling slightly in his nervousness. "Does she know of your feelings for her?"

"No, sir. I haven't told her because I'm not sure of them myself."

Jon looked away not being able to meet his father's gaze any longer. He heard him stand up and felt his hand rest on his shoulder gently. There was a reassurance in that small touch that had Jon look at his father again. There was a small, but warm smile on his usually grim face. It somehow made his father look ten years younger than he appeared to be.

"There is no harm in what you're feeling for Lyra. If I dare say, she seems to fancy you as well."

A chuckle was brought out of his father's mouth at the blush that was sure to appear on his face.

"There is also no harm in courting her, Jon." The shock that overcame him was sure to appear on his face. "Her mother was quite accepting of a possible marriage proposal between you or Robb. However, since Lyra has treated Robb more as a brother and him with her as a sister …"

Jon couldn't help the sheer and intense hope and joy that racked his whole body to the point of him shaking. The smile that was sure to be there made his father smile even wider as well.

The moment, however, was surely broken by a loud scream. Jon froze up knowing just who it was and didn't even think twice before running towards Lyra's rooms. He saw Lady Stark running into the room with the Septa in tow as soon as he got there. His feet had him crept up to the doorway and listened in to what was being said.

"Oh dear. You flowered very early Lyra. How are you feeling?"

"S-scared and it hurts! Why does it hurt so bad?!"

"It's more than likely because you're an early bloomer dear. You're only 11 name-days old!"

"M-mama told me that it was possible. Because she, Dacey, and Alysanne had theirs early too. Must be a Mormont thing."

"Yes, it must be. Celia, go and fetch me some sweets and hot tea please."

"Yes, M'lady. Right away."

Jon couldn't believe what he was hearing. How is this possible? Lyra had flowered early. Which means … "Seven Hells! Which means she's considered old enough to wed! I have to start courting her soon otherwise, Lady Stark will be pushing proposal's on her soon. She might, no she will have Lyra and Robb spend time in a courtship. Sorry, brother, but she's not for you. Then again … I suppose it's her choice in the end."

He waited until Celia had returned with a tray of sweets and hot tea, and also until Lady Stark and Septa Mordane left the room. As soon as they had rounded the corner he knocked on the door. Celia was the one to answer the door. She had an unassuming appearance with mousy brown hair and dark eyes as well as a small, petite figure. She bowed her head and stepped to the side letting him into the room. Upon seeing Lyra balled up under the thick furs shivering and clutching her stomach, it was heartbreaking to see her in pain.

"Lyra?"

A sniffle came from her as he moved closer slowly, cautiously. He honestly had no idea on how to deal with this. However, seeing most servants and even Lady Stark during this time was more than enough to tell him to proceed with caution. He made not be acknowledgeable towards women in general, but he knew to be wary when they have their moonblood. Jon gently laid his hand on her shoulder as he sat down on the bed just as Celia left the room closing the door behind her.

"It hurts Jon. It hurts so much. My stomach and legs are the worst of it. Mostly my hips, but everything else hurts."

"I wish I can do something to help Lyra. I can't imagine the pain you're in."

"Just stay here, please. Until I'm well enough to move a little bit."

"Alright. Celia brought some sweets for you to eat. I hear they help with the pain and the hot tea too."

"That was kind her to bring it. Maybe I should reward her for it later."

"I'm sure she would appreciate it. I … I can … help you … if you want."

Jon waited just a few moments before seeing her nod her consent. Honestly, despite how calm he was, Jon was absolutely anxious and awkward about all of this. He sure hoped that he wouldn't have to deal with Sansa or even Arya –- "Oh, gods have mercy on me."—when they have their moonblood. He shouldn't even have to do it with Lyra either. However, he felt as though he should because if anything, Lady Stark and the Septa would just tell her that she should endure it in silence. From what he is seeing and hearing, Lyra needed all the help she could get. Seeing her face scrunch up in her pain as he helped her sit up, hearing the sniffles and sharp intakes of breath as he gently moved cushions against her hips to help alleviate the pain. It made him want to bawl his own eyes out from how much his heart was being chipped away at the sight.

"T-thank you, Jon."

"There's no need to thank me Lyra. We just need you to get better. Here," He gently took a cinnamon bun from the tray and handed it to her with a small smile on his face. "Eat this and it should help some."

She gave a small shaky smile of her own as she nibbled on the treat. Seeing her curly brown hair hang down to her shoulders, her pale pallor get even paler, and her brown eyes alight with pain was almost unbearable to look at. Somehow, he had managed to do it. It was then he realized just how much he truly cared about her at that moment.

This went beyond just a mere infatuation and a simple sense of curiosity. This much he knew and he was willing to bet that this is what true love feels like. Oh, gods, if it was then he can only imagine the heartache he would go through if she came to her senses and chose Robb as her future husband. It was only reasonable. He was the heir to House Stark, Winterfell, and the wardenship over the North. Jon may have been just a few months older than Robb, just a few, but because of his baseborn status, it didn't matter as much.

Lyra saw how deep in thought Jon was and she could only guess just what it was. Out of the Stark children here, she spends the most time with Jon aside from Arya and Theon. This past year was spent helping Sansa with her newfound interest in archery and helping Robb with his training. This brought all of them together oddly enough. Bran and Rickon would spend time with them whenever they could because of them still being under the care of their mother and wet nurse.

The concept of a wet nurse was something she hadn't understood when she came here. Her mother didn't have one for her or her siblings. She fed them herself and just the thought of having her children feed from a stranger left a very bad taste in her mouth. It even made Lyra feel sick to her stomach at the thought too. These people have weird customs.

She shook her head gently and watched as the look on Jon's face gotten even more solemn than before and gently took his larger hand with her own. This got his attention quickly enough as he turned those puppy-like eyes towards her. She smiled as she reached for another treat only for Jon to gently place the tray on her lap instead. "He's such a good man. I hope he knows how much I appreciate his company. I don't even care that he is a bastard. I never did and it was just stupid with the way they treat them like this. When my 15th name-day feast comes around, I'll definitely make sure that Jon knows for sure."

Lyra smiled at the thought as she went through the treats offering Jon a few as well. She was quite surprised to see that he very much enjoyed the chocolate treats and even some of the apple tarts too. It was like he never had a treat in his life though it was possible too with the way Lady Stark treated Jon. She giggled as the blush appeared on his cheeks in his embarrassment to which had her give him the rest of it.

He was so sweet. His hands never wandered past him holding her hand, and he made sure she was comfortable and well taken care of too. Lyra was sure that he would be any girl's dream husband with how well he has treated her being in so much pain from this gods-forsaken moonblood. Most of all, she wanted him to be her future husband. She had spent time observing the boys her age, which included Robb, Theon, and Jon, and out of three, she had found Jon to be the best candidate. As her mother always told Dacey and Alysanne: "A she-bear must consider all possibilities and weed out the bad ones to find the best husband and provider of their home and children." Taking her advice was the best way to go.

During the four days, she had her moonblood, Sansa, Arya, and Jon were the only ones were stayed to make sure she was well taken care of. Lady Stark did what she deemed her duty and left. Lord Eddard had even visited a few times too. He gave her extra cinnamon buns and even stayed to share a few stories too. It was the closest she had ever felt to a true father figure. Her own father came and went due to him always being out at sea. She can count on one hand just how many times she has seen him in her entire life. So, it warmed her heart and brought her joy to see how much Lord Eddard cared enough to stay even if it was just a few minutes.

Jon, gods bless his soul, spent every hour of every day making sure she was comfortable and well-fed in those four days. It irked Lady Stark so much that she spent an hour just screaming at him for having no sense of propriety around a "lady". He endured it with humility and patience of a saint. One time it happened in her rooms, though it had gotten so bad that the shame and guilt of seeing him do this was enough for her to start crying. Jon must have seen it so matter how much she tried to hide ii, because next thing she knew, he was speaking.

"Lady Stark, I mean no disrespect, but you weren't here when Lyra had cried out in pain when she tried moving her legs. You weren't here when she had gotten so pale that I had to call Maester Luwin in here in the middle of the night to make sure she wasn't loosing too much blood. You were most definitely not here to much sure she had the comfort she needed to endure her first flowering. So, don't talk to me about not knowing on how to properly care for a lady or being proper about it."

Catelyn Stark had never looked so shocked and so much like the Tully trout as she did then. Then a look of disbelief and disdain appeared on her face before she walked away from the tense and angry 13-year-old boy.

Ursa had stayed the entire time too. She laid in her bed every night keeping her warm which helped ease the pain in her hips and stomach tremendously. By the time it was all over, Lyra hugged Jon tightly causing him to stiffen in his surprise before she felt him hug her back in return.

"Thank you so much, Jon. Thank you for taking care of me. I wouldn't be offended if you didn't want to do it again after this."

She says one thing but hoped for another. However, she knew that this was probably a one-time thing between them. Especially since it was considered improper and such.

"Aye, it probably would be a bad thing for it to happen again. But, if you ever need help, let me know."

Lyra knew that she had most definitely made the right choice with choosing Jon as her future husband. Now, all she had to do was wait until her 15th name-day and announce for all to hear.