Chapter Text
“I still think we should tell them in a fun way. I saved a couple tiktoks that seemed like cute ideas,” Robb informs her.
“Robb, we are having a baby out of wedlock, you know your parents won’t be happy about it. Don’t you think it would be better to sit down and own up to our mistake and let them know we have a plan and everything is fine?” Roslin asks him.
“Everything is fine,” he says, looking over at her strangely before turning into the gas station at their right, parking the car and then facing her, grabbing her hands and intertwining their fingers. “Let me clear up a couple of things. First off, our baby is not a mistake. An–”
“I didn’t mean it like that!” Roslin interrupts frantically, clutching her flat stomach with careful affection.
“I know, Honey. I know you didn’t mean it like that, but my parents won’t see it like that either. It was a surprise, but a welcome one.” Robb assures her with a smile. He pulls her hand up to his lips and kisses it. “Secondly, I think if we treat it more as ‘OMG you’re going to be grandparents!’ As opposed to ‘We weren’t careful and I got Roslin pregnant months before the wedding’ they’ll be much much more excited about it, because you’re right, with the timing of it all they won’t initially be thrilled. Lastly, next to you, this baby is the most important thing to me, if my parents don’t see that then that’s on them. We don’t need their opinion on this to be good for it to change anything. You are my priority, okay? You, me, us. We are having a baby and we are beyond happy and that is all that matters, okay?”
Roslin’s grinning at him now, as she nods her head in agreement. She leans in to kiss him and he meets her halfway. Pulling back after a few moments, she rests her forehead to his, cupping his face. “I am beyond happy about the baby,” she tells him, even though he already knew that.
He leans in to press another kiss to her lips and she giggles. Her fingers stroke his beard and Robb finds it entirely too adorable of her to still be ticklish by it, only apparently her laughter was caused by something else.
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say ‘OMG’,” she giggles again.
Robb chuckles trying to hide his embarrassment, he can’t help his blushing though, which she sees and then strokes his cheek affectionately.
“Yeah, well…” Robb excuses himself poorly.
“I have to tell Theon, he’ll love this!” She giggles again, pulling out her phone. Robb’s far too amused watching her all giggly and playful to stop her from texting him, though she knows Theon will tease him for it, too. He pulls the car out of the gas station and resumes his drive to Roslin’s.
—
Over the next few days, the two of them debate the best way to tell his parents, having Theon and Sansa weigh in with ideas. They come to a decision, and that same week they go to Winterfell early for family dinner, so that they can tell Ned and Catelyn before everyone else gets there.
Putting a leash on Grey Wind, Roslin grabs her purse and is about to open the door, only for Robb to rush over and grab the handle before she can. “I’ve got it, honey.” Robb says, taking Roslin’s purse and then Grey Wind’s leash. He opens the door, and once they’ve walked through he grabs her hand and leads her to the car. He’d been extra attentive, if that were even possible, since finding out about the baby. Roslin found it both sweet and annoying, it depended on the time of day, right now she appreciated it. It gave her reassurance.
“Are you nervous?” Roslin asks, as she anxiously taps her fingers on her knee.
Robb looks away from the road momentarily to meet her eye. “No. I’m excited, really.”
“Oh.” Roslin says back. That makes one of them. She’s excited for the baby, there’s no question in that, but she’s not excited to tell everyone. She hates disappointing people.
Robb grabs her hand to stop her tapping and gives it a reassuring squeeze. “It will be great! Honestly, what’s the worst reaction they could have?”
“I don’t know. They disown you and never speak to you again. It's all my fault and then you grow to resent and leave me.” Roslin tells him
“I’d never leave you. That’s not going to happen. I promise.” Robb says. He looks over at her worriedly, and Roslin knows why. It’s because she’s promised him time and time again that she knows this. And she does. But knowing something doesn’t mean it can’t be true. If his parents disowned him, he could grow to resent her and leave her. It’s very possible. Worse, it’s logical.
She looks over at Robb and sees the love in his eyes and all of the sudden the worry slips away. It would never happen. They love each other too much. “I love you.” She tells him.
Robb’s worry disappears, too. “I love you, too.” He replies. “And my parents would not disown me. They’re not the sort. They’re not–” Robb abruptly stops himself.
“What? They’re not like my parents?” Roslin asks. Robb has the grace to blush as he nods. “Shit. How are we going to tell my dad?” She panics.
“We’re not going to tell him. He’s not finding out. Nor is he coming to the wedding. I’m very firm on that.”
“Okay.” Roslin agrees. She likes this plan, so it’s easy to get onboard. She squeezes Robb’s hand and brings in to rest on her stomach, stroking it absentmindedly while he drives.
They get there in no time at all, and quickly let Grey Wind out of the car for him to run off with his siblings. Robb’s own siblings aren’t home. Rickon’s at lacrosse practice, Bran’s out with Meera, and Arya’s out of town. Which is why this is the ideal time to tell his parents.
With Grey Wind taken care of, the two of them head inside.
“Mom? Dad? Roslin and I are here!” Robb calls out.
“In the kitchen, dears!” They hear Catelyn call back.
Robb turns in the direction of the kitchen but gets tugged back by Roslin’s hand. She’s standing frozen in place, looking around the room worriedly. He steps back towards her and gently pulls on her chin so she’s looking up at him.
“Hey,” he whispers, a smile on his lips. “It’s going to be great.”
She nods, biting her lip. “On the off chance it isn’t…”
Robb shakes his head. “On the miniscule possibility that it isn't, we'll leave. We can go shopping for baby things.”
Roslin frowns. “It’s too early to buy anything.” She bites her lip harder and it starts bleeding.
Robb reaches and pulls her lip from her teeth and wipes away the blood. “The doc said everything was good. Both you and the baby are perfectly healthy. But worrying like this isn’t.” He takes a deep breath and grabs her hands. “Stress isn’t good for you, and this is not something to stress over, okay? They’re going to be thrilled.”
Roslin nods. “I suppose it would be less stressful if it wasn’t a secret anymore.”
Robb smiles encouragingly. “Exactly!” He tells her. Leaning in, he gives her a kiss, and then leads her into the kitchen.
“Hey you two, how was the drive?” Ned asks, walking over and giving Roslin a hug first and then Robb. Catelyn, who’s standing over a pot of stew simmering on the stove, turns the heat down and then rushes over to them.
“It was good,” Robb answers, as he hugs his dad back, turning towards his mom when she reaches him.
“I’m glad you guys are here! The house was too quiet with the younger ones gone!” Catelyn smiles, hugging Roslin next. “Now sit, sit.” She ushers them to the breakfast table. “Can I get you guys something to drink? Roslin dear, do you want some wine?”
Roslin’s eyes go wide, her cheeks reddening, and she looks to Robb for help.
“I smell cookies,” Robb says, for it’s the truth. “You didn’t happen to make any, did you, Mom?”
“Oh! Yes! I did!” His mom says happily. She rushes off to the pantry and then comes back and sets them in front of him before sitting down. Robb grabs a cookie and hands it to Roslin before grabbing two for himself.
His attempt at distraction doesn’t seem to really work, though, because his mom pours a glass of wine and hands it to Roslin, who tells her a nervous thank you.
“Robb, can we go to the woodshop in a little bit? I need a second person so I can attach the back to the dresser I’m making.”
“Sure, Dad.” Robb nods. “But first, we have a surprise for you! Both of you,” he says, motioning to his parents.
“Don’t you want to wait for everyone to get here?” His mom asks.
“No…not really. We wanted to tell you first.”
“Tell us what?” Catelyn looks freshly intrigued.
Robb looks over at Roslin and takes hold of her hand, intertwining their fingers. Roslin smiles at him shyly, biting her lip with nerves, but she reaches in her purse and pulls out the t-shirts they had gotten his parents, handing them over cautiously. Using his free hand, Robb reaches over and pulls Roslin’s chair closer to his own and then kisses the knuckle of the hand he’s holding, all the while his parents unfold and look at the shirts, which say ‘World’s best Grandma’ and ‘World's best Grandpa’ respectively.
They wait expectantly for his parents to react. Both of them are normally very in control of their emotions, moderating them as they see fit, but upon reading the shirts the two of them proceed to gasp, look at each other’s shirts, look at each other, smile, and then look over at Robb and Roslin with wide grins.
“You shouldn’t drink that,” Ned says, pulling Roslin’s wine away. “I’ll make you some tea, dear.”
“What would you like for an appetizer later, sweetie?” Catelyn asks Roslin. “I was going to do charcuterie but I’ll make something else for you.”
“It’s fine, Mrs. Stark. I haven’t been too hungry today.” Roslin dismisses.
“Nonsense, that’s all the more reason. What are you craving? We can send Robb to the store.”
“And forget about the dresser, Robb. We’ll start working on that crib we designed.” Ned adds.
“You started designing a crib?” Roslin asks her fiance, surprised.
Robb shrugs with a dopey smile on his face. Of course he started on one. They were going to need one eventually.
In a flurry, Robb is herded out to the wood shed and Catelyn has pulled Roslin into the pantry to get ideas on something to eat. By the time everyone else has started to get here for dinner, Catelyn has almost entirely changed the dinner menu to fit Roslin’s cravings, and Robb and Ned have cut almost all of the pieces for the crib. Ned and Catelyn have also insisted on wearing their shirts, but Robb talks them out of it because they haven’t told his siblings or Jon yet.
“You’ll tell them tonight though, right?” His mom asks once he and his dad have come back inside.
“Tell who what?” Rickon asks, walking into the kitchen and setting his lacrosse equipment on the counter, only to pick it right back up when Catelyn shoots him a look.
“Go put that away and shower,” Catelyn tells her youngest son, and Rickon leaves to do just that.
“We can’t tell them today, Mrs. Stark. Arya’s out of town and she’d be so upset to miss it.” Roslin reasons.
“We can call her.” Ned suggests.
“Ooo! Yes! Great idea honey!” Catelyn agrees, smiling at her husband. “Let’s call her now! That way, she’ll be the first of all the siblings to know. It will make up for the fact that she’s not here.”
Roslin exchanges a look with Robb, because that’s not true. Sansa’s the first sibling to know. But also, for all her worry and Robb’s reassurance, it’s safe to say his parents are way more excited about this baby then they could have thought they’d be.
His parents are looking at them expectantly, and Robb looks again at Roslin for confirmation. She nods her head, and Robb pulls out his phone and calls Arya.
“Hey little sister,” Robb greets happily.
“Hey big brother!” Arya says back. “Are you in Winterfell? What’s going on?”
“Yeah I am. Roslin and Mom and Dad are all here with me. We have some good news for you!”
“Do tell!” Arya says, and Robb can hear her grin even though he can’t see it.
“You’re going to be an aunt!” Robb says.
Silence follows. And then, “Actually? Oh my gosh! Roslin, is he for real?”
Roslin laughs. “He’s for real.” She says quietly.
“This is awesome! Gods, I wish I was there right now! How are along are you?”
“Nearing the end of the first trimester.” Roslin informs her.
“This is great!” Arya cheers. “When I’m back in town we have to celebrate!”
“Of course!” Roslin smiles.
They hang up with Arya and then go about their activities, with Ned going outside to start up the grill and Catelyn prepping the vegetables.
Robb pulls Roslin outside, and they go on a walk around the garden, in the peace and quiet.
“So that went well!” Robb says happily.
“Too well!” Roslin says with a laugh. “Your mom changed up the whole dinner menu because I said the thought of salmon was making me feel sick.”
Robb laughs too. “Yeah and my dad and I are building all of the nursery furniture, so we’ll show you the designs later to make sure you like it all.”
Roslin grins. “I’m glad everyone’s happy.”
Robb pulls her to him and kisses her sweetly. “Me too. The real question is will we be able to tell Bran, Rickon, and Jon before one of my parents slips?”
“They wouldn’t!” Roslin giggles.
“They practically just forced us to tell Arya,” Robb smiles. “We would have told her soon anyway but no it had to be then and there.”
“They just want her to feel included.” Roslin defends.
“Yeah,” Robb agrees. “So how do we tell the rest of them?”
Roslin thinks it over. “Maybe we just let your parents wear the shirts.”
That’s what they end up doing, so Rickon is the next to know, and he proceeds to declare he will be the favorite uncle, causing him and Theon to decide to have a competition to decide who truly will be, with Roslin as the judge. She doesn’t want to decide, but they won’t let it go, so she deems Bran the favorite uncle. Bran and Meera are thrilled at the news, as is Jon, who smiles so widely that Roslin starts crying, for Jon rarely smiles. She blames it on the hormones.
Now that everyone knows, Roslin feels as though a weight is off her shoulders. It also makes the baby feel more real. And that thought scares her, but not as much as it excites her. She and Robb are having a baby!