Chapter Text
“Are you sure we shouldn’t make her take next semester off?” Robb’s brow was creased and his blue eyes concerned in the rearview mirror.
“She’s determined not to,” said Cat, turning around to look at her eldest son. “She doesn’t think it will make a difference, and she seems to be more aware of what will and will not make a difference than she was before.”
“I’m not convinced,” muttered Robb.
“She’ll have Arya,” Ned said.
A flash of anger appeared in Robb’s eyes. “Like the other night you mean? When we couldn’t get hold of Arya for hours?”
“I believe it when Arya said that that will not happen again,” Ned replied simply.
“If you say so.”
The three of them sat in silence for a moment, waiting for a red light to turn green.
“Try and be calm, Robb. I understand, but we shouldn’t—” began Cat.
“Upset Sansa. I know.”
“That was not what I was going to say. This boy Gendry saved Sansa from doing more harm to herself than we can imagine. According to your brother, he and Arya are good friends. So let’s not make him feel alienated by alienating Arya. Besides. She is sorry. And I agree with your father about Sansa. It won’t be worrisome unless it happens again. Then, statistically speaking, it will be a trend, and that would be bad.”
Ned glanced at Robb in the mirror again. He was reading a text message, probably from the Westerling girl judging by the softened expression around his eyes. Ned recognized love when he saw it.
The restaurant was pretty empty. It was a Tuesday night, and there were several dates, several families and one business dinner. The host led them to the back of the restaurant where Jon, Sansa, Edmure, and Roslin were sitting.
Sansa stood and hugged the three of them when they arrived. She had what remained of her hair tucked up inside a winter hat. She would get it cut tomorrow, after she had finished settling back into her house.
Edmure gave his sister a kiss, and shook Ned’s hand. He did not shake Robb’s until Roslin had said hello. Robb gave her a kiss on the cheek, and ducked his head slightly, reminding Ned a bit of Grey Wind when Catelyn caught him chewing on the couch cushions. But Roslin was smiling lightly and his eldest son relaxed.
“Where on earth is your sister?” asked Catelyn when she settled herself down next to Sansa.
“Probably making out with Gendry,” Jon muttered under his breath. Ned was pretty sure he was the only one who heard. Cat certainly hadn’t.
“I’m sorry?” she asked, arching an eyebrow with a cool grace.
“She’s probably coming over with Gendry. I don’t know if he’s been here before,” smiled Jon lightly.
Ned raised his eyebrows at Jon once Catelyn had looked away. Jon smiled wryly and whispered, “They’ve been dancing around each other all semester. It’s been kind of funny to watch. But I think they might have figured it out the other day.”
Ned nodded slowly. He had always wondered if his younger daughter were gay, she had so little interest in boys. Fighting with them, roughhousing, racing them, yes, but dating… He wondered if he weren’t a little sad that even Arya was growing up and away. He was sure, at least, that Gendry would make a better boyfriend than Joffrey had. Though admittedly that didn’t take much.
He still had trouble believing that Robert’s son could do what Joffrey had done. Robert would have turned over in his grave if he knew.
Tyrion Lannister was the next to arrive, seating himself between Robb and Edmure and pouring himself a large glass of wine.
“I am glad to see you up and about, Sansa,” he said, taking a sip.
“I’m glad to be up and about. I’m afraid I might have to ask for an extension on my last reading response.”
Tyrion rolled his eyes. Sansa laughed.
“Hand the damn thing in whenever you like.”
Roslin leaned over and whispered something to Sansa, who responded in equal earnest and volume.
“King’s Landing, then?” Tyrion asked Robb.
“Yes sir.”
“And are they still daft at the law school, or have they developed common sense?”
“Still a bit daft, I’d say,” grinned Robb.
“They won’t get over it as long as Pycelle still teaches there.”
“Oh gods he’s bloody awful!” exclaimed Robb.
“I once got into an argument with him over some drinks that ended with him pulling out half his beard. It was quite amusing.” Tyrion took another sip of wine. “And how fares the North, Lord Stark?”
Ned took a deep breath, and was about to answer when he froze.
For half a second, he thought that he saw Robert and Lyanna, as they had been when they had first met, bickering and laughing. But Robert’s hair was longer and Lyanna’s was shorter and the laughter was louder.
He stood up and shook the boy’s hand.
“Lord Stark.” He ducked his head, a little awkwardly.
“Gendry,” he replied. When the man made eye contact, Ned almost had to sit down. It was Robert, but twenty years younger and without the beard.
“Please sit down,” smiled Catelyn who had stood as well and was now shaking Gendry’s hand.
“Hey dad.” He felt rather than saw Arya slip her arms around him.
“Hello, pipsqueak.” He smiled as he pressed his lips to her hair. She went to give her mother a hug, then sat down on Gendry’s other side.
Jon said something that Ned didn’t pay attention to, and the entire table broke out into appreciative laughter.
Ned was looking at Arya, who seemed so much older than when he had last seen her. There was a brightness to her eyes that was different than before, and a calm to her expression that she had never had in her entire life. But it was the smile that gave him pause.
It curved upwards and upwards, displaying an unbridled happiness that he had never seen in Arya.
He took a sip of his wine, and smiled quietly to himself, knowing.