This is unbeta'd, sorry. I think I've improved a lot though, so I didn't wanna wait for my beta since I didn't know when they would get around to editing this as it had already been weeks.

"Well. Here we are," said Jaime. They stopped a few steps in front of a two-story stone building. A banner with clothing painted on it hung just above the lantern hanging over the door.

"It looks so small," said Cersei, stopping beside him, an unimpressed look on her face.

"Aye. I know it doesn't look like much, but they've got quite a selection," he replied.

"We have shops five times this size in King's Landing," she said, matter-of-factly.

"Have? Or had? I doubt many are still standing after…" he trailed off.

"I doubt so too. I saw…I saw what she did from my window." She paused uncomfortably then looked back at him. "There really isn't anything for us to go back to, is there? Even if we could."

"The city will require extensive repairs, as I'm sure would the Red Keep itself. I pity the fool who ends up ruling when the Targaryen is put down," he replied

She frowned. "If she is put down. That usurping bitch has a dragon," she said, before stepping forward and opening the door.

As soon as they stepped inside Belonar gave them a warm greeting. Jaime quickly introduced Cersei by her assumed name, Seraelena. It still felt odd to do such, and he nearly slipped up. Hopefully, it would get easier with time.

Using the coins Cersei had given just before they left the tavern. Jaime paid off their debt. To his relief, Cersei refrained from accusing Belonar of cheating them, but maybe that was due in part to the fact that Belonar made no mention of charging them interest for the temporary borrowing.

"We'd like to return this," said Cersei, handing the dress to Belonar. "It seems my husband here doesn't know my measurements."

Belonar asked for her measurements and she replied with a number that Jaime could have sworn was larger than what he knew. But then, when had he last even asked for her measurements, or needed them for anything? He couldn't recall. She didn't look bigger to him, certainly not fat - not that those measurements would have indicated that anyway. If anything he thought she'd aged like the fine wine she so loved.

Belonar had them follow him to a stack of nearby clothes and retrieved a similar-looking dress and Cersei examined it and gave it her approval and thanks.

"We'll be on our way now, then," said Jaime, before turning to Cersei. "Unless you'd prefer we shop more."

"We may return later, or tomorrow. But for now, I'd like to take my leave. We need to make it to the maesters before supper time," she said.

Jaime then remembered that they had no idea where or how to find a maester in Pentos. He supposed they could just look around and hope they came upon one, but he was tired and his ankle was bothering him. He had a feeling it was sprained from his fall on the way to Pentos. Cersei probably wouldn't be too happy with him for this, but he decided to enquire Belonar on how to find one. "We're in search of a maester, actually. Do you have any idea where we might come upon one?"

"Of course. Though they are called healers, here. There's one I commonly go to about a fifteen-minute walk from here. Small two-story building. It's got a bunch of potions painted on the door," said Belonar.

—-

Before heading to the healers, Cersei used an outdoor privy, but upon opening the door a disgusted look marred her beautiful features. "There is nowhere other than the filthy floor to even set the new clothes while I remove these ones. Perhaps we could go to a bathhouse."

"We could go back to the store. I'm sure Belonar would let you change in the privacy of the backroom as he did me."

"You are acting far too familiar with Belonar. What exactly have you told him of us?"

"Not much," he stated, wanting to avoid an argument. He quickly changed the topic/ "It will be supper time soon and a healer may refuse us service after then. We should really go back to Belonar's. It will be faster than visiting a bathhouse."

"Fine. We will return there. In the meantime, though I have to use this privy." She paused, looking rather unsure. "I suppose I can leave our sack and my clothes out here with you."

Jaime felt a surge of happiness that she trusted him with all their worldly possessions, but it was short-lived, as he remembered that she still had the money in the bank that only she could access.

When they returned to Belonars he was preoccupied with helping somebody else, but a woman approached them and introduced herself. Her name they learned was Daenysa, a horrible name in Cersei's opinion.

Jaime explained their situation to her and Daenysa eyed them a bit suspiciously, before informing them Belonar had told her of the weary travelers from Westeros. Cersei gave Jaime a death glare, but refrained from scolding him. Why in seven hells had he told somebody they were from Westeros? Another thought occurred to her. What if he regretted coming back for her and was trying to get caught? No, surely not. Belonar must have figured it out when they referred to the healers here as maesters. They needed to be more careful.

Daenysa led them to the backroom, where Cersei would change. Cersei gave her a look as if to say how about some privacy. "I have to be present to make sure you do not steal anything," said Daenysa.

"Steal anything? Why would I do such a thing?" Asked Cersei, clearly insulted.

"It's just a precaution."

"I assure you that she has no interest in stealing," defended Jaime.

"If she wants to stay, fine. I'd say I could use her help, but this dress is so simple that I do not even require help getting into it." In truth, she actually liked the dress in spite of its simplistic style, but she wanted to insult the woman and figured what better way to do so than to insult her livelihood.

"My cousin made that dress," Daenysa replied.

"Your cousin needs to work on her skills more," she retorted.

"Her skills are quite fine. We simply like to keep stock of the simpler dresses for those who cannot afford fancier."

"I can afford fancier. My husband here is just a very jealous man. He prefers I wear clothing such as this." Well, she was throwing Jaime under the wagon with this quote, but she had to save face somehow. While Jaime was a jealous man, whether other men looked at her did nothing to provoke his jealousy. It was only when she reciprocated some sort of interest that his jealousy rose. Like with Rhaegar Targaryen, and Robert Baratheon, when she had first married him.

Cersei was relieved that she would soon rid herself of the days' worn servants' clothes. She'd never be able to dress like a Queen again, but neither would she ever again don servant's garb. It was a pity Tyrion hadn't managed to salvage one of her dresses from the Red Keep. She supposed it was for the best. A dress that screamed, "I am a merciless, magnificent Queen" would raise eyebrows and suspicions.

As she started to undress, the watchful eyes of the woman began to remind her far too much of her walk of shame and she started to feel uneasy.

The only one she was accustomed to seeing her like this was her handmaid, Bernadette. With Jaime, things were usually too hurried to undress. When was the last time they'd actually taken their time? Had he taken his time with that man-beast? The thought made her sick and she forced it from her mind.

Once undressed, she handed Jaime her old clothes. It felt odd, but they were one of the few things she had left from Westeros. She wasn't sure if she wanted to discard them just yet.

As she put her new clothes on, her thoughts drifted back to her maid, Bernadette. She'd not given her a thought before now, being too preoccupied with her journey. Had Bernadette made it out? She hadn't been with her when Qyburn had made his suggestion to wait things out in Maegor's Holdfast, she'd been off doing whatever it was exactly she did when not serving her in some manner. Her most loyal and favorite maid was most likely dead, and the thought made Cersei feel surprisingly sad.

Forcing such thoughts out of her mind, she finished dressing. She looked around for a mirror. Of course, there was none. Daenysa asked what she was looking for.

"Nothing. I am done now. In spite of this unpleasantness, I suppose I should thank you." In spite of her dislike for the woman, she did not want to appear as an uncivilized lowborn, which she feared her previous appearance had suggested.

She waited until they left the room before she turned towards Jaime. "How do I look?" she asked, somewhat nervously. She knew the dress was far plainer than any dress he'd ever seen her wear, but the golden sash made the otherwise simple dress look somewhat elegant, and she did love the color.

"Beautiful," he replied. "The color really brings out your eyes."

She beamed at him, giving him what might possibly have been her first sincere smile since arriving in Pentos.

It was a relief to know that at her age, and even in such a simple dress she still managed to not look plain. She had to admit that, other than originally getting the size wrong, Jaime had chosen well. Though red, not green was her favorite color, somehow the emerald green felt more appropriate, and the style suited both the weather and her frame.

To her surprise, he grabbed her by the hand, and they walked out of the shop together, hand in hand. He somewhat jokingly chided her about her comment about him being jealous and she sheepishly apologized. They looked like the picture of a happy couple in love as they walked the streets together.

As they walked to the healers, they passed some stands selling fruit and vegetables.

"Fruit stands! I should have known. We could have just had a couple of apples or pears to quell our hunger, and then gotten our clothes. It would have been preferable to not have gone into a tavern dressed in those rags.," she commented.

"Well, wasn't it nice anyway to sit down and eat?" countered Jaime, smiling at her.

"I suppose so. Truthfully, I'm just so tired. I wish that I could be back in King's Landing in my bed, with servants to bring my meals, and draw me a bath. And I'm worried. The baby is quite the mover today. Kicking like crazy."

"Well, that's a good thing, isn't it? Maybe they're just excited to be in Pentos now."

"Well, it's better than all the time they didn't kick. I was so worried."

"Soon, we shall be reassured that the baby is fine, come on." She did not. "I'll get an apple first. There aren't that many in line," she said, untangling her hand from his.

After a few moments, Cersei had her apple. She examined it, and her frown was quickly noticed by Jaime.

"What?" He asked, concerned.

"Nothing. I just, I was so hungry last night and all those other days when I ate, that I paid it no mind, but I just now realized there is nobody to peel this for me."

"I would do so with my pocket knife, if I still had it," he replied.

"I suppose I'll have to eat it as is."

"That's what most people do. I think," he replied.

"Not me. I've always had servants to peel my apples, and to cut the bad parts out of fresh fruit and vegetables before." She paused then asked somberly, "Our life is going to be very different, isn't it?"

"Yes, but better in most ways," he replied.

She wasn't certain she agreed, but arguing the matter would do little good. She ate her apple, peel and all, as they proceeded on their way.

It wasn't long before they came to a house just as the one Belonar described to them when giving directions.

Let me know what you think of this chapter. Sorry for the continued slow pacing! The next chapter is the catalyst for moving the story along further! Your feedback motivates me to edit and publish faster :) If you could let me know your favorite passage or part of this chapter that would be great! :)