authorsnote: so sorry this took so long but I'm so happy with how this turned out

I'm already writing the next chapter I promise!

do enjoy, and do review

songrecs: west coast - lana del ray

The next morning, she was sure she'd never felt quite this happy.

Of course, she'd had many happy moments in her childhood, even begrudgingly acknowledged she'd had some before she'd seen the truth of the South, but this? This bliss that washed over her as she turned in the bed to Jaime?

There was nothing comparable.

Even a sun had broken through the clouds, as day dawned and their wedding night was over, Sansa was smiling, really smiling, without a crease of worry, a furrowed brow or anything, for the first time in a very long time.

"Someones happy" She turned then with a smile, Jaime was next to her, bare chested, and she was already in his arms, in the circle of them, safe, protected; and she truly felt that now. Safe.

It was a foreign feeling to her, one that threatened to overwhelm her, but instead as Jaime tucked her closer, as she rested her head under his chin and he placed a kiss atop her head, she embraced it.

Safe.

"I am happy" She said, because she was, they were married now, no matter what happened, no one could take him away from her, and that was what mattered now. Yes, she wanted to get home to Robb and her Mother, desired a return to the North like her bones were aching for it, but she had Jaime now, if somehow she never made it home, she had him, family, Jaime was her family now.

"As am I" Jaime said and she grinned as she leaned up to place a gentle kiss to his cheek, shy, she was no longer a maiden, and though the ache between her legs was sore, the act itself had been far more pleasant than she'd ever been told to expect, she remembered her eyelashes fluttering, her hands gripping the bed, Jaime stroking her for what felt like an age before taking her.

Her cheeks pinkened at the thought, pinkened and then blushed red as she remembered Jaime first going between her legs, and his lips …

"Are you blushing my wife?" She felt a thrill through her as Jaime spoke, as he called her that; his wife, because she was, she even giggled for the sheer delight of it, before hiding her face, a touch embarrassed.

"I think you are" He dived for her then, kissing every inch of her face, and her giggles came and came, and she didn't just feel safe, or happy, Sansa felt joy.

It was truly something.

And as the morning passed, Jaime and Sansa allowed themselves just a moment or two, of joy, which they both felt, radiating over them like the sunshine. It was a little reckless, not to move on after having spent the night, but they allowed themselves the morning, passing it in joy.

As man and wife.

Come afternoon, even back walking, her feet sore, her back aching, a little cold, their clothes still a touch damp, it didn't dim her smile, knowing how much more they had ahead, she still grinned, for Jaime was by her side, and he was smiling too, and not even the light sprinkle of rain or her hungry tummy could dull that.

They'd had a meagre wedding breakfast of apples and stale bread, but Sansa preferred it over truffles and the finest wine. They'd dressed, kissed twice more (and Sansa had surprised Jaime she knew by initiating the second, all giggles and grins), and then headed off, only a hunk of cheese and a handful of apples left now. Thankfully they had full water skins and cheery smiles as they moved on.

"Whereabouts are we?" Sansa asked, she'd been keeping track as best she could, but she knew Jaime had a far better lay of the land than her, imagined he'd been taught how to read maps and chart the land, not like her, their educations did differ.

"Look to your right" Jaime said pointing to the side. He walked closest to where a road would lie, but it was so rural out here they were just trecking through fields and farmland, Sansa always nearest the open plains of grass, Jaime hand on his sword covering when they walked around rocks or small hills.

Sansa had wondered how Jaime could tell where they were until she did as he bid and a little gasp of wonder left her lips.

She could see it now, as they'd left the valleys and were on flat open land. It was far off, but she could see it, the Vale.

They weren't travelling on the Kingsroad, rather adjacent to it, far enough in to be hidden, but not deep enough in to hit the mountains. But she could see it now, in the mountains not far, the Eyrie, the tallest of them all, they couldn't be more than three days from The Bloody Gate.

"Do you think we should-" She began, but Jaime cut her off immediately.

"Terrible idea" He jibed and she rolled her eyes, he did so love to tease her.

"You didn't even hear my idea" She protested, and he laughed then, and she had to resist the very real urge to stomp her foot, and instead he just nodded.

"Of course my Lady" He mocked, and her glare strengthened, "Do tell me"

"We could go to my Aunt Lysa-" She began, but again he cut her off, and then did laugh at her huff of frustration.

"Again terrible idea" He repeated, grinning from ear to ear, and if it were not so dangerous she'd be tempted to flounce off to make her point.

"Don't think of running off" Jaime said, as though he could read her mind, no, she knew he was just good at reading her, once she'd have hated that, now she found she didn't mind it. "I will have to drag you back, and kiss you in punishment"

"Your kisses aren't punishment" She grumbled before she managed a grin, a roll of her eyes and a mock bow of her head, and all was forgiven, he did like to tease her, and she couldn't pretend and say she hated it, but back to the point, "Why not go to my Aunt Lysa? She could send word to Robb, he could come and meet us? Or his men at least?"

"Your Aunt Lysa from what I remember before your brother captured me, and then from what I heard in the Camp, did not respond to her nephews summons to war" He said with a furrowed brow, and at Sansa's outraged expression he nodded, where was the loyalty?

Sansa knew who she was loyal to, she'd never ever turn her back on her family like that.

Guilt bit at her as she thought of the letter she had written to Robb at Queen Cersei's behest, the Queen hovering over her as her tears decorated the page.

"And as someone who was almost betrothed to her" Jaime said, wincing this time, and she understood why, "She is in love with Petyr Baelish, and I imagine quite resents your Mother for that"

"Really?" Sansa asked eyes widening, "I didn't know that"

"I think its all very complex, and sordid, and a complete mess" Jaime said with a nod, he took her hand then and she grinned, "But needless to say, your Aunt Lysa should be avoided"

At that Sansa nodded, "We never visited her much as a child, but if she didn't answer Robbs summons, clearly she can't be trusted" They both nodded at that.

Sansa did feel a pang of longing, that her Aunt might help, that they wouldn't have to walk every step North, hungry and tired and cold, but she knew it was worth it, of course it was, just tiring. The easier option was right there, but Sansa knew that didn't always make it the right one.

"What we really need to do is find a horse" Jaime said with a sigh, "But that is easier said than done in these parts, a farmer first with a horse, and then to be willing to part with it"

"Do you think we should head further inland?" Sansa asked glancing at the mountains, she felt a little panicky at the idea of navigating them, being trapped in endless valleys between high peaks, coming across Mountain Clans and Marauders, yes Jaime was by far the best swordsmen she'd ever seen, but he was just one man and she couldn't fight, the thought of being captured, or losing Jaime near made her feel sick.

"No" Jaime said with a shake of his head, "I don't like the idea of being trapped between Mountains, its too open, and too closed at the same time" He paused then, and let out a sigh and Sansa felt a sliver of worry, what was he thinking?

"I think we might need to get closer to the Kingsroad" Jaime said turning to her, and she did feel that worry expand from a sliver to something more.

"To get a horse?" She asked, and Jaime nodded.

She understood, the journey on foot could take months, even on a horse it would probably take at least another month, on foot? And as it got colder, and they got more tired and achy, it would just get harder and harder, and yet the thought of approaching the Kingsroad, of being spotted…

"I'm not asking to say no" She said then, thinking out her words carefully, but it was something she had to ask, had wanted to for a little while but didn't want Jaime to think she doubted him, she didn't, but she was scared, and was aware it was just her and Jaime against the might of his family, who she knew would be very motivated to see her not return to Robb Stark, either recaptured or dead. "I just want to ask you something"

"Okay" Jaime said, pausing then to prop up against a tree, Sansa couldn't stop, and instead she chewed her bottom lip before forcing herself to speak.

"What do you think would really happen if your Father captured us?" She asked, she needed to know, she could guess, but she didn't know Tywin Lannister, not like Jaime did.

"Sansa I won't let him-" He began but she shook her head, holding firm.

"Tell me" She said, she needed to know.

Jaime let out a sigh, but he nodded.

"Best case scenario?" He asked and she nodded, she could handle it, "He passes it off as us getting married at his order, he packs us off to Casterly Rock for me to rule in his stead, expects a Lannister baby in your belly as soon as possible, and has our sons for Casterly Rock, Winterfell and maybe even Riverrun" He said with a sigh, "Our children would be Lannisters through and through, and any chance you have of returning home would be gone"

She nodded at that, the fear was rising in her, the idea of being trapped at Casterly Rock wasn't as bad as Kings Landing, but she felt a shiver up her spine for the idea of her children being raised in the wheel of Lannister cruelty, of Gods, being fostered in Kings Landing, of being ripped from her arms and wrapped in red and gold.

She forced herself to swallow, and nodded, she was a Lannister now, truly, she cocked her head, she hadn't even thought about that, and forced herself not to for a moment longer; she needed the other answer.

"And worst?" She asked, forcing her voice above a whisper, forcing herself not to tremble.

"Worst? He executes us both" Jaime sighed then, "No, it can be worse than that" He paused then, and walked over to her, took her hands that were trembling, rubbed his thumbs over her knuckles, it did help, but she still shook, "He separates us, me to Casterly Rock and married to someone else, you to Kings Landing and the same"

At that she shuddered. Jaime was right, that was worse than them both dying.

"But I won't let him, I won't let any of them" Jaime said, and as she trembled, he pulled her close, one hand on the back of her neck, he rested his forehead to hers, she slid her eyes shut, but he used his other hand to tip her chin, "Look at me Sansa"

She forced herself to open her eyes, to look at him, her husband, with green eyes that were the exact same shade as Cersei's.

And yet in Jaimes there was a kindness, a softness, there was love, she could see it, and that gave her strength.

"I won't let any of them take you from me" He said, and it sounded like a vow, "Even if we get recaptured, even if I can't stop that, you are my wife" He said, and there was such passion in his voice she could have wept, "I will not let anyone take you from me, not my Father, not your brother, not any of them"

"All that matters to me in this world is you, and I'll damn them all to hell before I let them take you"

Now that was the vow, and she nodded, against him, against Jaime her husband, as he pulled her into a kiss, a sob left her lips as she went willing into his embrace, terrified that one day someone would try to pull her from it.

But … she knew Jaime, she knew he'd protect her, and there was no safer place but his arms, holding her close, holding her strongly, he wouldn't let anyone take her, and she wouldn't let anyone take him.

"I'll die before I let them take me alone" She said as she broke their kiss to speak, her hands coming up to cup Jaime's face, to look into those green Lannister eyes, and she realised with clarity she didn't mind being Lady Sansa Lannister if it meant being married to him, "Even if they find us before we get to Robb, as long as I get to stay with you I can live, I won't live without you" She said, and she knew that was the truth, she wouldn't reach for a knife if the Lannisters came, but she would reach for and cling to Jaime.

"You won't have to"

That was the vow, as sure as the promise he'd made to her infront of the Oak Tree Sansa knew. Another sob left her lips but one of relief, Jaime would never let them be parted, and neither would she.

And so the Kingsroad beckoned.

In the North, Robb lay in front of the fire in his room, draped across the bedsheets lay Roslin, his wife.

He wished he could be happy, to be married to a woman who cared for him, who was beautiful and sweet. He wished he could be happy with his Mother safe and back in Winterfell, with Arya not quite ruined by war, practising with her sword but happily eating cakes at the same time. He wished he could be happy now word had come that Jon travelled to Winterfell.

He could not, for one person was missing.

He mourned for his Father, for Bran and Rickon, for how he'd failed them and would spend every day for the rest of his days with that guilt, but Sansa? The guilt was far sharper, the helplessness worse.

Statues of his Father, Bran and Rickon were being built in the tombs, for his brothers their wolves next to them. As Winterfell rebuilt and quickly, he could honour them here, but not Sansa, she wasn't dead, he hoped she wasn't, she was just lost…

"Robb come to bed" His sweet wife said, and he managed a smile as he stood and joined her, they both hoped for an Heir sooner than later, and they'd done their duty that night, though it felt like less of a duty as each day passed, his wife was easy to love.

"Worrying?" She asked him, shy as she had been when they'd first met, she was still that, quiet and contemplative, but kind and an easy ear for him, never judgemental, but always ready with a reassuring word and a challenge when she thought he was wrong.

"Always" He said with a frown as he slid into bed and opened his arms, Roslin sliding into them with a small shy smile.

"She'll come home" She knew what he worried of course, she knew him, and he placed a kiss to her head, he knew he was lucky to have an arranged match be so happy, he just wished he could fully enjoy it, without the call of duty, of worry, of fear nagging at him.

The men had been sent home to harvest, to resupply, to raise their banners again in two months. In the meantime, every builder was working on Winterfell and the key roads in and out. He'd sent supplies and men to Howland Reed to work on Moat Caitlin, they couldn't rebuild not quickly enough, but fortify. It was time to sit back from war for just a short while to fortify the North, not that he expected Southerners to attack it, it was not yet Winter but the snows were thick, still he would not underestimate them.

"Will she?" He asked with a frown, "No one has seen her"

"Which is a good thing" Roslin said with a gentle kiss to his cheek in comfort, he leaned into it readily, "If we have not seen her neither have the Lannisters"

"She could be dead" Robb said, expressing the worst fear he always had, that his sister had slipped from his fingers, for his refusal to trade Jaime for her, knowing the Lannisters wouldn't honour it, knowing his men would hang him for it, but he'd failed her, just as he had Bran and Rickon, and that guilt threatened to eat him alive at times. "In a shallow grave, alone"

"No, no" Roslin insisted, and this time she pulled him close, and he went willingly into her arms, soaking in the comfort. Behind closed doors he didn't have to be a strong King, he didn't have to be in charge and dominating over the room, he could just be, and for that he loved Roslin most of all. "You would know" She pressed a small palm to his heart then, and he could feel it thrum under her fingers, "You would know if she was gone"

"How am I going to find her?" He whispered, he had no answer.

"The spies are spreading out, the network is being built" Roslin said, he knew all of this of course, but it weas comforting to hear, "As soon as she pops her head up someone will see her, the Riverlands network from both my family and yours is strong, more are spreading into the Vale, and if she even steps foot in the North everyone will recognise her"

He nodded, he knew she was right, but he still felt that pit in her stomach, that she wouldn't step foot in the North, not ever again.

"Be patient my love" Roslin whispered in his ear, ever so gentle he could have wept, "Sansa Stark will come home"

He prayed to the Old Gods she was right.

y'all got whiplash? angst - fluff - angst - fluff, round and round we go!

jaime/sansa my bbys, I needed to give them some happiness, as it won't always be that way...

and I have loved developing roslin! you'll see more of her and robb/roslin as we go

I hope you enjoyed, do fav/follow etc and speak (much sooner!)