authorsnote: an almost 2am update here, don't say I don't work for ya'll

do enjoy

songrecs: I need some sleep - eels

"What were you thinking?"

It was unsurprisingly, his Mother who spoke first (after the Velayrons had been hurriedly shuffled out after dessert, all looking different shades of awkward, or annoyed, or he hoped he could see on Alyssas face; relieved), and did so with annoyance colouring her tone.

"I wasn't" He said, for that was true, this was hardly a plan he'd thought out, if he could translate that to the decision he'd made, colouring it with love as the excuse, then perhaps that was a plan in itself.

He needed one after all, and as messy as this was, as difficult it would be to pull off … if it worked, it would solve a lot of immediate problems.

There would be no betrothal for him that he wanted to avoid, for many reasons, Sansa wouldn't be subject to a betrothal either (and he imagined she was at equal risk as him on that front), and chiefly Sansa wouldn't be sent from Kings Landing.

As his betrothed her place would be here, with him, not stuck in the Riverlands where she didn't belong.

Neither of them belonged here, they belonged in the North, but first and foremost they belonged together, and this kept them together, that alone in Jons eyes made it a worthy plan.

They had to stay together, there could be no question of being parted.

It wasn't like they were planning to get married, his cheeks almost went pink at the thought, but this was the only way he could see Sansa staying with him, here, together, where they both belonged. It was also the only way he could see himself not being married off, which would create its own problems.

"That sounds about right" His Father said wryly, he seemed more amused, which Jon hopefully took as a good thing, his Aunt seemed to be bordering amused and annoyed, his Mother on the latter end. Not a bad showing all in.

He didn't know what Sansa's reaction would be.

He knew deep down she'd understand the decision he'd made, understand how it benefited them, and how tactically it was the best plan to give her some level of equal standing with him as betrothed to a royal family member, and chiefly would keep her by his side, and his by hers where they belonged.

But part of him was oddly nervous, even though he knew Sansa would be likely thankful even for the solution he'd found, would talk through how to take it forward and see it from a practical perspective, nerves fluttered in his belly at the thought of telling her for all intents and purposes they were now betrothed.

Betrothed to marry.

Nerves he wasn't sure where they came from and didn't want to for the time being.

"This is no laughing matter Aegon" His Mother said, venom in her tone, though she did soften as she turned back to him, "You shouldn't have done this without consulting us"

"You'd have said no" Jon said, for he knew it was the truth, and in hindsight, knew if he'd have thought up this plan before and had asked permission it would have blown the plan up, as his family would have said no.

It had been unplanned, but somehow perfectly planned.

His Father here just laughed then, and his Aunt too, his Mother still looked annoyed but she seemed to almost smile, almost being the operative word, he imagined his bluntness was winning him points, even though none of them were happy with his decision.

"We would have" His Mother confirmed to which he shrugged, which earned him a cuff on the back of the head.

"There is no advantage to a match with Sansa Tully" His Aunt followed up, looking a touch apologetic but continued, "The Tully's are already loyal to us for raising them to Lord Paramounts, and besides, you know we marry within our own blood"

"I don't have any sisters to marry" Jon said, sarcasm peeking through, to which his Mother offered him a glare.

"No, but you do have the closest thing in Alyssa Velayron" She said, "She is the better match"

"She didn't want to marry me" He insisted, she hadn't, he was a stranger.

"That is a woman's lot" His Aunt said with a kind smile, "She'd not find better than you Jon"

"Thank you" He said, with a small smile, but he knew he couldn't drop this, couldn't be talked out of this.

Not only did this keep other Ladies away, but he had realised this would likely be the only way to keep Sansa in Kings Landing, with him. There could be no risk of her leaving, and so he had to stick to this, even as his family … his new family, objected.

"But I love Sansa" He insisted, and his Father sighed, clearly seeing his mind was made up, Jon was surprised the King didn't put his foot down, but perhaps he didn't see the point, or perhaps history had never reported on an indulgence towards his son. Either way, Jon was relieved, even as his Mother glared. "I won't set her aside"

"You've caused trouble here" His Mother said, but she too then sighed, "But … if it is what you want" She looked sad for a flicker before, she offered him a soft smile, cupped his cheek and he couldn't help but lean in, the comfort of it too appealing to him.

After all, he'd never had a Mother, who could blame him for walking into the arms of the one he had here?

"I love you" She said, with a smile so kind he hated the idea of history calling her unkind, she was the opposite, and he smiled back.

"I love you too" Perhaps he did already, perhaps it was just severe Mother issues, but he didn't care, he leaned into the comfort, soaking it in, "I'm sorry"

"We are far too indulgent with you in this" She chucked him, "But you're a good man Jon, a good son" She said, and he felt his cheeks sting pink.

"Yes" His Father … at least here, spoke then, "Perhaps we have been indulgent in this, perhaps not, but you've come out well son, we're proud of you"

"Thank you, Father," He managed, it felt odd, for he had, had a Father, and yet he found himself smiling, especially as his Aunt offered him a smile.

So, this was a family, one that wanted him in whole, one that didn't shun him or see him as an embarrassment.

He quite liked it.

His heart swelled, perhaps more than liked.

"Bring Sansa for supper tomorrow" His Father said with a nod, command in his voice then, it wasn't a suggestion, "We should meet your new bride"

"Bride to-be" His Mother jumped in, but she too nodded, and released him, "We need to make sure she is right for you, so bring her"

"She is" He said with a nod, "She's beautiful, and strong, kind and intelligent" He blushed then, to describe Sansa as so in this context, but his words were true.

"Quite the endorsement" His Aunt said with a smile, "We shall see I suppose"

And with that ominous parting, he made his way out, relieved to jump over that hurdle unscathed.

Now he just had Sansa to tell.

Fuck.

He found her in the gardens.

He knew she hated it here, even if it wasn't the Red Keep, just far too alike it, and he imagined she found comfort in being outside, in the fresh air, away from the royal regalia, away from the similar aspects of a place she had been captive in.

He wished he could take her away, but not only was he expected here as Prince and Heir, there was nowhere better for him and Sansa to be to see a change brought about.

However, that may be.

It was one day at a time, and though it had been a shock (to say the least), and they were in someway stumbling through said shock, they would take on the challenge, of changing things, of making the world safer for years to come.

One day at a time.

He walked through the bushes, a couple of people passed him, stopped to bow, and curtsey, to which he offered them strained smiles, he would never be used to that, even as King in the North he'd disliked it, here it somehow felt worse.

Here it all felt falser, like it was crawling over his skin, the lie of it all.

"You know you need to work the look of indifference off your face, young Princes are meant to bask in attention" Sansa interrupted his inner thoughts, his brooding as he neared her, and took a seat next to her, where she offered him a smile, looking out onto the ocean, a pile of sewing in her lap, her hands clasped together.

"I'm trying, but I won't be basking" He said, but at the roll of her eyes he nudged her and she grinned, trying and failing he knew, he'd never be suited to a place like this.

"Was everything alright?" Sansa asked, as another couple passed them, bowed and curtsied and Jon offered another awkward smile, a reminder they couldn't talk freely here, even though Jon knew they needed to.

"I don't fancy going on dragonback" She said with a grin, held out an arm to him, abandoning her sewing for a moment, "Walk with me?"

He nodded, they looped arms, and he followed her through the gardens, to a more secluded section overseeing the bay, further away from the Keep, not quite spy-free but more private, as they spoke in hushed tones.

"So, what happened?" She asked, dropping her voice, eyes wide with concern, Sansa again, she was truly good at putting a mask up, he hated why that was, "Are you alright?"

"Fine" He said, thankful he was used to guarding how he sounded, how he looked, he could do stoic, though Sansa's look removed his defences, "There was a family dinner with the Velayrons, and far too soon … " He paused, how in the Gods was she going to take this? "Far too soon there was talk of me marrying"

"Marrying?" Sansa asked, and he noted her voice pitched a touch, before she cleared her throat, a look he couldn't decipher passing over her face, "What … what did they say?"

"They wanted me to marry Alyssa Velayron" He said, gruffly, "Said we needed to unite the families and it was past time for me to marry as Heir and … and all that" He shook his head, still finding the clinicalness of it hard to digest, "But ..."

"What did you say?" Sansa jumped in, "That would be difficult for our plans, for us being able to talk" She bit down on her lip, hard then, "I wouldn't be allowed to go on these walks with you, I barely should now, since we're not chaperoned, but if you're married…"

"I know" Jon said, and he felt nerves stir in his chest, time to rip the bandage off, "And so, I had to stop any talk of it"

"How did you do that?" Sansa asked, and he could hear something like nerves in her voice.

Here he went.

"I told them I couldn't marry because I was already betrothed, had already asked someone" He said it so quickly he wasn't sure she'd fully heard it.

But the fact she didn't reply, told Jon she'd already heard it and caught on, but he knew he needed to say it, out loud, even as his cheeks burned.

It was foolish, this was just a front, a play to keep Sansa in Kings Landing and him free of any type of betrothal, and yet his cheeks were pink, and he didn't notice Sansa's were too, and they were both treating it far, far more seriously than just a façade.

Perhaps for a reason.

"I told them I asked you" He turned to her then, knowing he couldn't be a coward and avoid looking at Sansa forever, "I told them I was in love with you and asked you"

Her eyes were wide, cheeks pink, and Jon felt a touch of panic, was she mad? No, Sansa usually yelled when she was mad. Disgusted? They were cousins now but perhaps she still saw them as siblings? Something that comforted him and oddly made him even more nervous. What was she feeling? Her blue eyes were wide, and nervous but otherwise betrayed nothing. e

"I …" He stumbled, "I thought it was best" He wasn't good at this, talking to girls, but then Sansa was his sister! Cousin? Sister! It wasn't like with Ygritte, and this was all just a story, wasn't it? "To you know stop any betrothal to Alyssa Velayron, and I had to explain it and I…"

"I…"

But then, he let out an 'oof', as Sansa barrelled into his arms.

"You're a genius Jon" She whispered into his ear, "I don't know why I didn't think of it"

She pulled back then, and was smiling, actually smiling, Jon found himself doing it nervously too, she was okay with this? Not mad or disgusted?

Of course, they didn't know that neither of them felt disgust, neither.

"This keeps me here, with you, gives us an excuse to spend time together, and stop us having to sneak around or even entertain anyone else!" She said, with a grin, and Jon found himself grinning, always happy to soak up any praise from Sansa, always finding her praise and opinion mattered most to him, "Its genius, truly"

"Say that again and it will go to my head" Jon teased, as something settled over them, the ease they'd have previously, Jon thankful Sansa wasn't going to scream at him, and then something else.

Something that had Sansa wrapping an arm around his again, standing a little closer, as they continued their walk to talk about supper with the Targaryens tomorrow, for their betrothal.

Betrothal, it was mad to think on, they were siblings after all.

Or not quite.

*big eyes emoji*

no I haven't set a pairing yet but I think you can guess (but it won't be a romance, sort of but like secondary genre)

I hope you enjoyed, small update, but dinner with the targs next ...