First I want to apologize for not updating in so long. Have had a lot going on in real life and been depressed too and not feeling like doing much. To make up for how long it's been I'm going to try to do a chapter a week on this for the next few weeks until it gets to chapter 22. I'll also try to update my Lions in the red keep fics and my No Longer only us fics soon too.

Thank you to Princess Rosalind of Underland, jacobssibling, AlexanderCastle, kaz, and S3rienjunkie for reviewing the previous chapter and to everyone who may have reviewed other chapters too. It appears that is back to not sending notifications when somebody reviews, but I'll be back to check manually if anyone reviews this. Because of the problems with this site I'm thinking of starting to upload everything to another site called squidgeworld, I already have a few things on there. They have the same format as ao3 and don't seem to have biased douche bag moderators on their site. And unlike this site will allow smut too. It's gonna be a massive undertaking though to upload everything but I'll see.

Suddenly her lips were no longer upon hers. Before he could even react he felt a rough shove and found himself stumbling back. He would have fallen had he not quickly grabbed a nearby post. He watched as Cersei smoothed out wrinkles in her dress, her eyes averting his gaze.

Why had she pulled away so abruptly? Didn't she want him? Had she ever? He always came to her, never the other way around. Perhaps she had just seduced him into joining the Kingsguard all those years ago in order to bend him to her will, as Brienne had once suggested. He hated himself for giving in, and for not being the one to pull away first. It had just felt natural, perhaps from all the many times in the past when he'd turned her blows into kisses. As he contemplated such things he found himself staring down at the ground, trying to shield himself from the ever annoying sunlight that seemed to only intensify his headache.

When he gazed up Cersei was gone. He rushed through the crowd in the direction they had been heading and was beginning to call out her name when he spotted her. He ran to catch up and grabbed her arm, causing her to stop and turn around. They stood, in front of some store with fancy dresses displayed in the window staring at each other for a moment while people walked past them.

Cersei broke the silence first. "That should not have happened."

"So are you saying it was a mistake then?" he asked, forcing his voice to not show how upset her reaction had made him.

"I hardly think so. A mistake is a servant forgetting I prefer strawberry pie to blueberry. I'm saying it shouldn't have happened. Not here. Not now."

"When then?" he asked, frustrated.

"Perhaps when you start acting as you used to! That is when! The old Jaime would have had me eight times over by now - one for each day we've been back."

"Well, perhaps I've been reborn with a bit more self-control! Why should I always make the first

move?"

Cersei frowned, clearly not expecting that answer. "You don't always make the first move!"

"After a fight, I always come to you first," he said.

"Not always! It was I who came to you after you defended Tyrion, and you repaid me by releasing him!" She reminded him.

"You're still upset about that?" He asked, surprised.

"Well, if you wouldn't have released him Myrcella and Tommen would still be alive. If Father hadn't died nobody ever would have dared go against us."

"Why are you so sure of that?" He sighed in defeat before continuing, "Perhaps we should go back to the inn and rest and talk when I wake. My head is pounding."

"Well, I'm not exactly feeling great myself. My feet and legs and especially my back are killing me. And these cheap clothes itch. Or perhaps I just itch because I have no damn servants to draw me a bath, nor access to any tub for even you to draw me one!"

"This is difficult for me too," he said.

"This is difficult for you!? This is what you've always wanted! What you used to beg me for! I'm the one who has lost everything! My children, my throne, all my possessions, any ounce of power."

"Lost everything, eh? Well, it's nice to know I count as nothing," he replied bitterly before continuing, "You think this is easy for me either? I do not fancy the idea of being a cuckold. Although I'm not exactly sure even that term is correct considering the cuckold is normally the husband and that was more Euron's territory as well."

"I did not marry him!" she stated, raising her voice.

"No, but you promised to."

"And what sort of things did you promise her?"

He'd not made any promises to Brienne, but he wasn't about to reassure her now when he had to worry that the child she carried may not even be his. He sighed, "Let's just head to where we were going. People are staring."

"These streets are so loud I can barely hear you. You don't think anybody could have overheard what we were discussing, do you?" Asked Cersei, the anger in her eyes replaced by worry..

"No. But we look quite the sight stopped here. Don't you think?" He said.

"Fine. Let's see if we can find a place selling wagons. Don't even think of suggesting the stagecoach again," she replied.

He followed her struggling to keep up with her brisk pace. They passed by a butcher's shop and were in front of a carpenter's shop when he noticed that across the street there was a large, open farmers market with dozens of various vendors. Even from his distance, he could see fruits of all shapes and colors. Some vendors even looked like they were selling pies. He wasn't overly hungry, but some sweets would be a welcome treat and an excuse to rest for a few moments.

"Would you like to visit the farmers market?" he asked Cersei.

Cersei glanced across the road at the market. "Perhaps later."

His attempts at further conversation were unsuccessful. Annoyed and hurt by her icy demeanor he decided to change the subject by asking her about her recent purchases. "Why did you get the blonde dye as well? Were you uncertain of the black dye and happened to notice a gray hair?"

"I do not have any gray hair you fool!"

"Then you're the fool. A great golden fool for wasting money on a dye you do not need," he said as they passed by yet another fabric store.

"I would have thought even the stupidest Lannister could figure it out. Well if you can't I am sure not going to tell you."

"Very mature of you."

Cersei declined to reply, finding she would rather occupy herself with looking into the windows of the various clothing ships they were passing than pay any mind to Jaime's foolish questions.

Finally, he broke the silence, "I am not as much a fool as you think. I've figured out the obvious."

She turned towards him, "Really? And you're agreeable then?"

His brow furrowed in confusion. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"You seemed to not be willing to disguise yourself any."

"Disguise myself?" he asked, dumbfounded.

She raised an eyebrow in amusement. "What did you think the dye was for?"

"Well. The black dye is for you to dye your hair to that horrible shade. So the blonde dye is obviously for you to dye your hair back to its rightful color once we are well enough away," he said matter of factly.

She laughed, amused by his cluelessness. "I suppose I could use it for that. But no, I got it with you in mind."

"Me? What would I need it for?" He asked, seeming confused.

She rolled her eyes. "Are you sure you're not the stupidest Lannister? It's for you to dye your hair."

He rolled his eyes right back at her before mouthing his reply back mockingly. "Yes, I should definitely dye my hair golden blond. Nevermind the fact that my hair already is blond and that everyone in all of Westeros knows the Lannisters as being of golden hair."

"Your hair has darkened considerably over the years. They'll be looking for a brown-haired man if they are at all suspicious of us." She fumed inwardly. His hair hadn't darkened until he'd met that giant whore. It was as though the gods themselves were trying to bestow upon him distance from his house and from her and all that they had shared together.

"You'll shave as well. Everybody has grown accustomed to that scraggly look you have taken on. I assure you that I have not," she added.

"My hair has darkened to be more sandy blond, not brown! Regardless, with your suggestion, I'd look like me, only younger. I'd hardly call that a disguise."

"It is what you will do for me. Unless you're hoping we will get caught."

"I suppose I could consider it", he replied.

They walked a bit further, passing various shops, most of which looked the same to Jaime. Clothing, clothing, clothing, some sort of food, a shoemaker's, and on the other side the farmers market seemed never ending. None of it bore much interest to him. He clutched his head, wishing he could go lay down. In The Red Keep, he'd be able to rest and wait for a servant to bring him something to dull the pain, and even bring his meals to him. He could count on two hands the times he had done so in all his years as a King's Guard, nonetheless the option was always there. As the Queen's brother and Lord Commander of The Kingsguard, nobody would have ever dared protest if he wished for a day of rest. They were not, however, in The Red Keep, and he had not the option to lie down and be waited on. There was only himself and Cersei and she could barely take care of herself, let alone him.

"Jaime!" Cersei exclaimed, knocking him out of his thoughts, "Up ahead! Finally!"

He turned to look at where she was pointing. There was a gate with a large patch of land. Dozens of horses, mules, and oxen roamed about. To the other side of the gate was an open field with several wagons, wheels, and various piles of wood, and next to that was a small house.

"Yes, finally. My head is killing me," he said.

"Well my head, feet, and back are all killing me so you'll have to excuse my lack of sympathy."

They continued to advance to their destination, passing a weapons maker, Cersei spoke again, "Remember we need something large enough to accommodate all the supplies we will need before reaching the next city. And of course, comfort is of the utmost importance."

He frowned. "That sounds rather expensive. We'll likely not have much money left if we purchase such a large wagon," he said.

She frowned back at him. "Well, I suppose I can sell my ring tomorrow then."

"Your rings you mean," he said absentmindedly. He slowed down, in awe of the building they were passing, which didn't at all blend in with the rest of the shops. Upon closer inspection, it appeared similar to the sept that Cersei had blown up, only even taller.

Cersei stopped and turned to look at the building he was focused on. "Well, that's something I'd hoped to never see again. I thought they didn't worship the seven here."

Jaime stopped next to her. "Some do, though of course, it's less common here. But what was this you were saying about the rings?"

"Just that I will sell the one tomorrow,"

"Shouldn't we sell both? We'll need to in order to buy a house and some animals in addition. We should-"

"We can't sell Joffrey's ring! It's all I have left to remind me of him."

"Joffrey's ring?" He asked, confused.

"Yes, I gave it to him for his thirteenth Name Day. I've worn it ever since that decrypt bitch murdered him."

"How did I not know this? And why did you not say anything?"

"I'm sure I must have at some point. Either way, I will not part with that particular ring," she said.

"Ok, so we'll sell the other ring and the pendant then. Perhaps we'll even do well enough to keep the ring," he said.

"You know I've already told you I won't part with the pendant either."

"So you're only willing to sell one of our remaining three jewels? We need coin. I know you're reluctant to part with them, but we will need to sell at least two of the jewels, if not all three, to have enough money to live on. Unless of course, I were to find work."

"Your only skills are in being a knight and a soldier. Who would hire a one-armed man for either of those?" she laughed.

He sighed heavily, unable to come up with a retort to her cruel remark. "Then it is agreed upon that we will sell both."

"It most certainly is not! But never mind that; it appears we're here now."

He took a glance and spotted a man fixing a wagon wheel. Either the wainwright or one of his apprentices. Together, he and Cersei approached the man.

I'll try to upload the next chapter on Friday or Saturday later this week.