#hai writes

You didn't really know why you were doing what you were doing. Picking up ingredients to cook a dinner for a man you adored, who you suspected adored you too, but refused to acknowledge it. Often, you thought of just up and leaving the QZ and Joel behind, heading for anywhere else that people might be, in an effort to stifle how you felt about Joel and to garner enough self respect to stop yourself from letting him use you. 

‘But I couldn’t leave him.’ you thought to yourself. ‘Why not?’ You argued. ‘If a better opportunity came along wouldn’t Joel just leave you?’ You bit your lip and tried to focus on the rations you were putting in your pack. ‘It’s not worth thinking about. Not anymore.’

“Get down!” A voice rang out suddenly over the market square. 

“Shit!” You cursed and bent down to shield yourself using the vegetable pasta stall. 

The sounds of a grenade detonating reverberated off the brick and you braced yourself for impact. Debris violently flew through the square, crashing and bouncing all around you. Brick shot through the pasta stall and broke into smaller pieces when it crashed to the ground before you. You whimpered and closed your eyes. A flash from that night, Joel’s birthday, September 26th 2003, played in your mind. 

The movie theater. 

Midnight Madness was playing.

Your co-worker came stumbling out of the building, covered in blood. 

Your first instinct was to grab Joel’s shoulder and point them out to him, ask him to stop. 

Joel didn’t stop for the family with a baby, he wouldn’t stop for a grown adult covered in blood. 

Your coworker grabbed a woman fleeing nearby and latched onto the screaming woman’s neck. Her mouth filled with blood and it spilled down her turquoise top. The turquoise was so pretty, you recalled. Accented even more by the crimson of her blood. You rolled down your window and puked out of the side of Tommy’s truck. 

You opened your eyes. Dust had settled in your hair and over your skin. The market was in shambles around you and the stall behind you was blown to smithereens. The robot FEDRA installed to run the market booths looked to be beat to hell, which put a smirk on your face. Swallowing against your dry throat, you looked to find a way out of the square and back to Joel’s apartment. You found one and started to move towards the street when you heard the clatter of boots upon pavement, working as one unit. You heard the shift of guns in hands and cursed to yourself. 

“Fuck me.” 

Your only chance to escape was to wait until the firefight started and then run for it while they’re all focused on each other. You turned instead, to the destroyed robot. You hunkered down behind it and pulled your body as close to yourself as you could, making as small of a target as possible. Moments passed in silence, then some angered shouts of ‘Free Boston now!’, and then the exchanging of shots started. You jumped when the first shot was fired and took that as your cue to make a run for it. Your chest pounded as you ran towards the sidewalk, your pack shook from side to side and your heart felt like it was in your ears. You turned the corner away from the market and a spray of bullets marked where your feet had just been. Your breath stuck in your throat and chills ran over your body. Turning from the fight, you fled towards Joel’s apartment. The streets were abandoned already, people safe in their homes, helpless but to watch the chaos unfold in the city below them. 

You came to Joel’s building and twisted your pack around to grab your key from the bag. You hand trembled as you tried to fit it in the lock and you almost left it in the door after you unlocked it. Hurrying up the steps towards the second floor, your lungs seemed to be shrinking. Air couldn’t reach them quick enough and your vision was becoming blurry. You turned the corner on the second floor and almost ran to Joel’s apartment. Pressing your hand to the dingy door, you unlocked the apartment and hurried inside, shutting it tightly behind you. You closed your eyes and let yourself sag against the door. You covered your mouth with your hand as a wild sob climbed up and out of you. Clenching your eyes shut, you sank to your knees and tried to catch your breath, but your chest was heaving too quickly. The world seemed to be spinning around you. 

“Hey, hey, what’s wrong?” Joel’s voice cut through the chaos in your mind. 

You felt his big hand, warm and tender on your knee, and sensed him close to you. You opened your eyes to find him bent down next to you, his dark eyes intense and focused solely on yours. Before you could stop yourself, you reached out and wrapped your arms around him, tucking your face into his neck and letting your tears fall onto his shirt.

He was tense a moment, then allowed himself to soften for you, his hand snaking under your pack to rub up and down your back. “Tell me what happened.” He whispered.

You tried to force yourself to catch your breath, breathing when Joel breathed and closing your eyes, but the trembling wouldn’t stop. “I’m sorry.” You replied. 

He pressed a soft kiss to your hair and then pulled you closer. “It’s okay, just breathe.” He shifted you so that he could lift you up, then carried you both to bed. He laid you down softly and then took your pack for you and hung it on the hook by the door. 

You felt emotion well in your eyes so you distracted yourself with taking off your boots. A tear fell onto your laces just as Joel re-appeared in front of you. 

“Lay down.” He said, and motioned with his head towards the bed. 

You looked up at him, all of you tender and vulnerable and raw, and did as he said.

He reached down and took your boots off for you, placing them one after the other beside the front door as well. You watched him and bit the inside of your lip; did he know he was your whole world? Did he feel how beloved he was?

He took his boots off as well and sat them beside yours, then stripped down to his boxers before climbing into bed next to you.

You both turned to face each other once you were safe under the covers and Joel reached for your hand under the sheets. “You okay?”

“I-” You let out a deep breath and tried to keep your breathing steady, “I wanted to make you dinner.”

“You don’t need to do that, darlin’.”

“I know, but I wanted to get us special food to make and-”

“You weren’t there when the square was attacked, were you?!” Joel’s head lifted from the pillow and his eyebrows furrowed in concern. He had heard the commotion from the apartment and didn’t think anything of it, you had said you had to work late. 

You looked at him with big, watery eyes and nodded yes. 

Joel frowned and grumbled deep in his chest. He scooted closer to you and wrapped his arm around your torso. “I don’t need to tell you that was stupid.” 

You slotted your face in just below his chin and pressed your body against his. Breathing was coming easier to you now. “I wasn’t being stupid, it was just a random attack.” 

Joel grumbled again and ran his hand up and down over your back. “Still.”

You smiled gently and took in a shuddering breath. “Next time a secret organization launches a random attack, I’ll make sure I know in advance.”

Joel huffed and pressed you closer. “Good.”

TAGLIST: @over300books @autumnleaves1991-blog​ @phoenixhalliwell​ @ntlmundy​ @myheart-pedro​ @intu-witch-tion​ @frietiemeloen​ @greeneyedblondie44​ @amneris21​ @disasterhann​ @aana4664​ @freeshavacadoooo​ @prostitute-robot-from-the-future​ @maievdenoir​ @heyitsjaybird​ @nerdypinupcrystal​ 

NSFW

I think the first few times you have sex, Daemon is very quiet, obedient, and soft. He knows what he’s doing and he knows what he wants to do, but you’re not like any of his lovers before. He doesn’t want to scare you or do something you don’t like, so he would rather just let you lead until he learns your body and what you like. 

He can actually be very sweet and tender during sex. If he’s feeling sweet, his preferred position is missionary with hand holding and eye contact. He also likes holding your face with both hands when you're riding him and kissing all over your legs and stomach before he gives you oral.  As much as he wants people to think he’s a fuckboy, he can’t cum unless he feels that emotional element as well as the raw attraction.

Hate to say it but Daemon's BDE is more than valid 👀 The first time you had sex it took a few tries and some extra lube to fit him all the way in 😩

With that in mind, if you tell him you want him to be rough, he can do that too. (doggy with hair pulling is his favorite). He's incredible at building your tension up, teasing you just enough to keep you there until he’s ready, and then pushing you over the edge to get you to explode for him 🥵

He makes your body tremble, vision turn to black, ears ring, and your hands claw at his back when he gives you an orgasm. He’s not satisfied unless he knows he’s made you cum as well. 

He is also down to try p much anything sex wise. He likes to try new things every time, but of course, will make sure you're into it too before he does. If you tell him a long kept fantasy of yours, or tell him you have an idea you want to try, he's immediately down, yes, let's do it, where's the nearest couch, bed, or closet 😏😏

Daemon is either very into a threesome or either very not into a threesome. The only reason he'd say no is because he's so possessive and he couldn't stand to see anyone else touch you the way he does.

He also likes teasing you when he's bored at small council meetings. He'll lean over to you and whisper in your ear something about how he can't stop thinking about how good you taste and tuck a little peck just under your ear and you’ll have to sit there and try not to blush. 

Snow had begun to build in the corners of the huge windows in Kate’s apartment. 

You were tucked safely into her deep purple couch, wrapped in a mustard yellow blanket with a mug of hot chocolate sitting on the coffee table in front of you.

Lucky lay on the opposite side of the couch, his body expanding and shrinking with every slow, sleepy, breath he took. The TV played softly, but it wasn’t enough to keep your mind distracted from the worry working so hard to over take it.

‘Maybe Kate’s just picking up a pizza downstairs before heading up, or maybe she had to stop by her mom’s on the way over.’ You tried to reason with yourself.

Kate had been making more and more super friends recently and, even though you supported her, it seemed like she forgot that she was just a human with a bow and arrow- not a god with a hammer or a soldier with a star on his chest and a pair of wings. Every time she was late, it worried you. What if something happened to her? What if you couldn’t save her? What if she was killed and there was nothing you could do about it?

You took another handful of popcorn into your mouth and began to chew frantically, trying to work out the stress building in your chest,  just as the front door to the loft apartment opened. 

Kate hobbled in, her hair mangled, her purple bodysuit dirtied and seemingly unable to walk on her left foot. 

You jumped from the couch, Lucky’s head jerked upwards at the sudden movement, and you crossed the space to her quickly. “Kate, you’re hurt!” You said, your heart pounding in your throat.

“No, no, I’m good.” She smiled and held up her hand, but you saw twinges of pain in her expression. 

You wrapped an arm around her shoulders to try and help her to stand up. Just looking at how delicately she was treating her left foot, you could tell it was broken. Your heart soared with joy that she had returned, and you wanted more than anything to lead her to the couch and hold her tight for as long as she would let you, but the concern for her foot easily overpowered your own desires.

“Just gonna get out of these dirty clothes so I can come snuggle up with you-” She started oversweetly but ended in a shrill cry of pain. Her hand shot up to your shoulder for support. 

“We can snuggle after you get your foot looked at. Let me get my shoes on, I’m taking you to the doctor.” You said, leading her over to the couch.

Lucky had jumped up to greet both of you, his tail wagging slightly and his one eye looking up at Kate with concern.

Kate managed a dry laugh, “No, see I’m trying to get into character for my LARP,” She took a deep breath and nodded, her voice cracking with pain. “My character looks decrepit but really,” She lifted her weight off your shoulder and tried to stand on her own, but groaned loudly in pain. You frowned at her and wrapped your arm around her middle, lifting upwards to try and lessen the weight on her foot. 

“It’s just to throw people off my scent, they won’t suspect a-” Her fingers dug into your shoulder and she grimaced in pain. 

You looked at her as she tried to keep her cover from being blown and you were stuck by how unbelievably beautiful she was, even when she was bullshitting and trying to butter you up to get her way, her blue eyes shone sharp and bright in the dim light of the apartment, and if it weren’t for the more pressing matter of her broken foot, you would have kissed her right then and there. 

“They won’t suspect a girl with a broken foot.” She beamed up at you.

You grinned back, “So you admit it’s broken?”

“Well, I- uh…no?” 

“Uh-huh, okay Superwoman, let’s get you back downstairs and into a cab.”

~~~~~~~~~

The fluorescent lights of the Urgent Care facility cast a sterile glow over the waiting room. An elderly woman who continuously wiped at her nose with a raggedy tissue sat across from the pair of you and when she smiled, you gulped. 

Kate shifted in her seat and huffed dramatically, her dark eyes skimming over the walls of the waiting room for the hundredth time. 

You smiled softly as she grabbed your hand and began to draw her finger over the lines in your palm. “You feeling okay?” 

She nodded, her bottom lip protruding in a pout she knew you would have a hard time resisting. “Just miss home.”

You rolled your eyes affectionately and tucked a loose piece of her dark hair behind her ear. “Kate…”

“You can never trust these places anyway-” She leaned over to whisper in your ear.

You shook your head, “That’s not-”

“If they can’t get into a real hospital, how much do they really know? They probably just have Web MD pulled up back there-”

“Stop.” You chuckled and rubbed a hand over her arm. “I know you don’t want to be here, but you don’t think a broken foot is going to heal itself do you?”

Kate looked down at your hand under hers and her lips shifted to the side of her face, then back again. “I guess not.”

“Baby,” You started, moving your hand from under her finger to brush across the line of her jaw and guide her face back towards yours. “You need to let me and the doctors take care of you. If we leave right now, you might not ever be able to walk on that foot again, is that what you want?”

She sighed heavily and let her head lull back against the wall. “No.”

You smiled to yourself and took her hand, intertwining your fingers with hers. “Good.”

~~~~~~~~~

Kicking the door to her apartment open with one foot, you moved to wrap your arm around Kate’s torso and help her inside. 

“You don’t have to do this, I can walk by myself.” She insisted, gripping her crutches tight and grunting from the effort. 

“Kate, you’re not even holding them correctly.” You laughed, moving her hand from the bottom rung of the crutches to the correct grip. 

She sighed and then hobbled past the entryway.

You wrangled her prescription, her bag, and the pizza you’d picked up from the shop downstairs then kicked the door shut behind you. 

Lucky was happy to see the both of you, his face smiling and his tail wagging as he jumped up from where he’d been waiting faithfully just behind the front door. 

Kate squealed as he ran over to her, bending down to shower him with praise and give him a scratch behind the ears. 

“Lucky,” You said sternly. “Easy with her.” 

The dog perked his ears up at his name, but continued to wag his tail and pant happily in Kate’s direction. 

“Kate, lay down on the couch, we need to get you off your foot.” You said as you began to drop the things in your hands on the kitchen table and grab plates for the pizza. 

“Yes, mom.” Kate teased, throwing a mischievous smile your way.

You shook your head, “You’re lucky you’re cute.” 

She beamed in your direction and then followed your instruction, easing into the deep purple couch with a heavy sigh. 

Lucky whined as he looked up at her; her broken foot was in his spot. 

She reached a hand over and scratched behind his ears. She offered a tired apology, “I’m sorry, buddy, I’ve got to take your spot for right now, I have a broken foot.” 

Her kind heart made you smile and you readied her plate of pizza. You crossed from the kitchen to the living room and handed her a plate. 

She took it and smiled up at you, “Thank you.” 

You nodded, “Of course. Now scoot.” You motioned to the little space left behind her and she lifted up just enough to let you crawl in behind her. You wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her back towards you, her dark hair falling across your front as she let her head come to rest on your shoulder. 

“You really don’t have to do this.” She said, her mouth full of pizza.

“Shh, you’re my girlfriend, I want to take care of you.” You assured her and pressed a kiss to her temple.

Kate ran her free hand down your leg and squeezed your knee softly. 

You moved her hair back from her face and asked tenderly, “So do I get to be the first one to sign your cast?”

She turned back to you, her cheeks full and bright with adoration. “I thought you’d never ask.”

You sat your pizza down on the coffee table, then wriggled out from behind her to retrieve a Sharpie from the junk drawer in the kitchen. 

Lucky moved to allow you some space, but still continued whining for someone to do something about the foot in his spot. 

You bent down beside her and ran your hand gently over the purple cast. You thought for a moment and then wrote, ‘You should see the other guy’ across the rough bandage.

Kate bent over and chuckled when she read it, “The other guy was a wall.” 

You set the Sharpie down on the table behind you and leaned over her, your eyes flicking from her bright blue eyes down to her full lips and back again. “I kind of like taking care of you.” You whispered. You leaned down and brushed your lips over hers softly before actually kissing her. Her mouth was strong and passionate, as it always was, and yours stayed soft. She deserved softness after all of her hardship and especially now when she was hurt. 

You cupped her cheeks in your hands and held her close until she pulled away. 

She drug a fingertip across your cheek. “Is that a good thing?”

You chuckled and pulled at one of the strings on her lavender hoodie. “I just mean that…I like that you still need me.”

Kate’s hand dropped from your cheek as her face contorted with confusion. “What?” 

You straightened up and sat beside her outstretched legs. “Well, you know, you’re best friends with a Black Widow now and Hawkeye is on your emergency contact list and…” Your heart pounded in your throat. “I don’t know, sometimes I feel kind of…” Your eyes shifted from Kate’s piercing blue ones to the couch and back down to your hands. “I feel a little left behind…sometimes.”

You could feel her heart break as she whispered your name. She took your palm in her hand and pressed a strong kiss into it. 

As you watched her, you bit your bottom lip and looked down at her knees. 

“I will always need you.” She said gravely. “Look at me.” She said when she noticed your eyes averted. 

You obeyed and she placed a tender hand on your cheek. “Who else is going to take care of me? Who else knows my favorite kind of pizza?” 

You smiled softly and placed your hand atop hers.

“There’s no one else who will love me like you do and I don’t want to love anyone else the way I love you.” She admitted, her eyes looked up into yours, pleading.

You nodded and smiled softly “Promise?” 

Kate grinned, “Yes of course I promise, get over here.” She said, handing you her pizza to set on the coffee table before holding her arms out to pull you back into the couch with her. 

You nestled in beside her, kissing her skin wherever you could find it. The pair of you were silent a moment, Kate’s hand brushing up and down your back slowly and yours at her waist, when all of a sudden she bellowed, “Lucky!”

You turned to look back and saw Lucky with both of your pieces of pizza in his mouth. He had stolen them from the coffee table while the two of you were too enveloped in each other. The golden retriever trotted over to his food bowl and began to eat them both there.

You turned back to Kate and chuckled, “I mean Pizza Dog is his name.”

KATE TAGLIST: @mitchi-c

As I worked, my mind traveled backwards through the years, through the blurred past filled with the razor sharp edges of yearning and the brief warmth of satisfaction, to a memory of Jon, Robb, and I. I thought of when we tried to run with the direwolves, over fallen trees and through wooded glens, only to lose sight of them. I thought of the three of us building castles in the snow of the forest and the feeling of smearing mud on Jon’s face. He told me I wasn’t pretty enough for a king and I struck out at him instead of sinking within. I smirked as the scene replayed in my mind. I remembered the way my heart pounded in my throat the first time I noticed the curve of Robb’s lips, the strength of his hands, the power in his eyes. 

I swallowed against a dry throat. 

As unsightly and unconventional as it was for a knight to harbor feelings for their lord, I could not help what I felt. Robb was not just my lord and king, he was my friend.  

I felt that I was standing just an arm’s breadth away from complete happiness. Reaching, vying, and straining into nothingness. 

I sighed and set up the next chunk of wood upon the cutting stump. 

Unwillingly, I thought of the first time Robb talked with Jon and I about a girl he was courting. I remembered the lift in his cheeks when he spoke of her and how his eyes glowed with anticipation. I remembered feeling defeated, the heavy loneliness in my chest. 

He had suggested the three of us go on a day hunt with him. I remembered both Jon and Robb looking at me, waiting for my answer, and the way my tongue grew heavy in my mouth.

I remember the smile on Robb’s face when I said I was excited for him and the deep burning, the aching, in me to run away. 

Moisture welled in my eyes. I cleared my throat and swung the axe. The wood splintered unevenly. 

I remembered my hands shaking and how my palms grew clammy when I saw Robb in his ceremonial robes for his coronation. 

The chipped part of the wood went sailing and collided with my shin. “Fuck.” I whispered. I bit the inside of my lip and moved the bigger piece of wood towards the middle of the stump again. 

Unwillingly I recalled how my heart soared when Robb had kissed my cheek after I was officially knighted. I still remember the smell of him, the softness of his lips, how my breath caught and my chest thundered just from his closeness. 

My heart now in my throat, I swung the axe again, cutting the log down the middle and hastily throwing it onto the firewood pile. 

Who was I to confide in? Who could truly hear me when I spoke of a knight's unrequited and unending love for her king? What would they say? Would I dare chance it? 

Suddenly, a low rumbling began to sound. I looked towards the front gates and saw in the distance a tightly formed lined of men and horses. 

My pulse quickened. I dropped the axe, wiped the sawdust from my hands, and began to sprint towards the eastern battlements.  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Your Grace, there are Karstark and Bolton men lining up near the eastern gate!” The guard rushed into the throne room, breathless, red-faced, eyebrows pinched. 

Robb glanced from the man, to Jon, and then back with a concerned expression. “My brother will go with you and tell us how to best prepare.”

“Yes, my Lord.” The guard bowed and waited as Jon rose from his breakfast seat beside Robb. 

“Nice of you to volunteer me, brother.” Jon joked.

Robb smirked as watched after them. They stepped quickly through the castle and towards the eastern battlements. 

Robb took in a deep breath to steady his pounding heart and stood from his plate of bread and cheese. He motioned to one of his kingsguard, “Where is Alise?” 

The man shrugged, “I don’t know, m’lord. I’ve not seen her yet this morning.”

“Maybe she finally found someone willing to go to bed with her.” Another knight joked, earning a quiet laugh from the rest of the Kingsguard near him.

Robb steeled his jaw as he saw a group of archers running towards the Great Hall, “Get to the eastern battlements, now.” 

~~~~~~~~~~

Robb was never afraid of being a king. He did what he felt needed to be done and did what he thought was best for his people. But standing on the battlements, flanked by a Kingsguard on one side and Theon on the other, he felt like he was wearing another person’s clothes. 

Lords Bolton and Karstark sent two men to the gates of Winterfell to negotiate, and Robb sent Jon down to meet them. 

“We have fond Lady Alise. She is with the rest of the Kingsguard, putting on her armor.” Theon relayed to Robb. Robb’s blue eyes remained fixed on his brother below.

“Thank you.” The king replied with a heavy sigh. He swallowed against a dry throat and could faintly make out Jon say the word “never”. With pursed eyebrows and the weight of a kingdom on his shoulders, he turned to Theon, “I’m afraid we are about to be under seige.”

~~~~~~~~~~~

My heart pounded in my chest. I drew my sword. 

“Steady now!” Robb called over the din of nervous men and horses from the front of the line of Winterfell’s warriors. 

The gates of the North were thrown open and the whole of us charged forth as one. A righteous shout erupted from Robb’s mouth that was echoed by Jon, Theon, the rest of the Kingsguard and I, and then ignited in the mouths of every man and woman charging behind us. 

Spears and swords peeked out from around the opposing men and horses. The glinting weapons looked as if they were teeth bared; growling and hungry for us. Our horse hooves thundered across the earth, kicking up wet grass and creating a path of mud behind us. 

A second wave of shouts sounded as Robb used his sword and the speed of his horse to skewer the first man to die in the siege of Winterfell. 

~~~~~~~~

My braid fell from where it had landed on my shoulder to behind my back as I swung my sword through the neck of a wild-eyed man wearing the flayed man's symbol. Blood spurted from his wound and splattered over my face and breastplate. I spat out what had landed on my tongue and turned just as another man charged towards me, a shout leaving his lips and his bloodied hands choked up high on his sword hilt. I braced myself for his attack, but he outmaneuvered me, using his sword instead to swing in a wide arc and force me to fall backwards onto the earth below. I grunted with the impact and then gasped as the stranger straddled me and held his blade above my neck. I held it from reaching me with my armored hands, my biceps quivering with effort. The man laughed and pushed more of his weight onto me. I grunted and tried to wiggle free, but it was no use. He kicked my sword from my hand and it went careening across the dewy green grass. My mind was racing as I desperately searched for something to free me from his grip. 

There was a spear lying forgotten not too far from me; if I could hold him back with one hand I could reach the weapon and stab him from the side.

I took in as deep of a breath as I could and readied myself. Just before I was about to release one hand to reach for the spear, the sound of hoofbeats grew louder and louder and suddenly the man was knocked off of me. I let out a deep exhale and sat up straight. The Karstark man lay dead beside me, blood pooling around him from a wound on his back. I looked after the horse and my savior, and I was met with my favorite pair of blue eyes. Robb flashed me a half smile before surveying the battle and shouting instruction to his men.

A lightness overwhelmed my heart and all I wanted to do was bask in my affection and adoration for him. I watched him as he yelled instructions to the men near us, but I couldn’t hear a word.

~~~~~~~~

Grogu loved the snow. He liked throwing it at Din and smushing it together in his hands. Din liked to see his son so happy and excited, so he encouraged Grogu's snowball throwing, pointing a finger at you as the three of you walked towards the small village marketplace.

Grogu followed his dad's advice, throwing a snowball in your direction and laughing and squealing to himself when it hit you, before becoming fussy from the cold and running over to reach his arms up to you.

You adjusted the little tyke's beanie and then picked him up, tucking his green cheeks into the warmth of your neck.

Snow had found it's way into the sleeves of his smock and the baby was cold from the inside out.

The pair of you followed Din through the snow like this, careful to stay close behind him in case of danger.

Vendors were busy behind their tables, selling to every last minute shopper who forgot to get a Life Day gift.

Din lead the both of you through the hustle and bustle of the marketplace until reaching a hot chocolate stand decorated with red shining tinsel and green bows.

Alien children formed a little mob beside the table and your family waited behind them patiently; you tucked into Din's side and the baby tucked into you.

Din reached over and ran a gentle thumb over Grogu's cheek while you all waited, asking softly, "You okay, buddy?"

Grogu babbled to himself and you kissed the top of his beanie.

The kids in front of you talked amongst themselves, and a little boy turned around, but once he took notice of Din, gasped and backed away quickly. The other children followed suit, each of them paralyzed by the bounty hunter you adored.

Din bent down to be at their level and you could hear the smile in his voice. "It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you, my family just wants some hot chocolate. Happy Life Day."

The kids eyes shifted back and forth as they looked from Din, to the vendor, to each other and then eventually decided everything was safe.

They went back to their spots in line, one of the braver boys turning to Din and saying, "You can't cut in front of us though. We were here first."

Din held up his hands and chuckled as he stood tall again, "You're right, you were here first." He looked back at you and you snickered, "Can't argue with that."

After the children had their hot chocolates, you and Din stepped up to the vendor and he ordered two drinks, one for you and one for the dozing Grogu.

The vendor began to create the warm drinks for you, when he pointed up to a flowering plant above his table. "Do you know what that is?"

You and Din both shook your heads.

"It's called mistletoe. It's a very ancient plant. It is a symbol of love and devotion and it's customary for any to pass under it to share a kiss." The man turned back to you with the two hot chocolates and you took one in your hand. Din grabbed the other before tossing credits on the counter.

"Thank you, Happy Life Day." You told the vendor as you adjusted Grogu on your shoulder and followed Din back through the snow to the Crest.

~~~~~~~~~~

Hours later, steam rose from the pot on the stove before you as you slow cooked a pot of soup.

Grogu slumbered peacefully in his floating prim and snow fell happily upon the land outside the Crest.

You could hear Din's footfalls as he turned the corner into the kitchen and you smiled when you felt his warmth near you.

His hand reached out and the tender pads of his fingers drew across your shoulder. "Cry'ika?" He asked, his words breathy and almost nervous.

You turned your head from the soup to face him, "What is it?"

The Mandalorian smirked, his cheeks filling when he did, and then reached down to his belt and retrieved a small clipping of mistletoe from one of his belt pockets. He looked up at you, the plant in his hand and his eyes wide and sparkling, then said, "It is customary."

You smiled as heat rose in your chest, "Din, you big sap."

He shrugged and dangled the mistletoe over your head. He took a half step towards you, closing the distance easily.

You left the soup on the stove and turned towards him, slowly running a hand up his armored chest and melting into his touch.

Din leaned in for a soft kiss. His lips were plush and warm and made you feel safe. He dropped a hand from holding the mistletoe to wrap around your other side and he pressed your body against his.

You let out a little whimper and tugged softly at the ends of his scruffy brown hair. "Happy Life Day, Din." You whispered before turning your head and pulling his lips into a deeper kiss.

"Happy Life Day, mesh'la."

DIN TAGLIST: @mndalorians @supernovafeather @hoodedbirdie @insideafictionaluniverse @kirstendm66 @artsymaddie @wasicskosgirl @lostgirlheather @jedi-mando @edencherries @buckysalefty @shayna-winchester @happy-beeeps @alwritey-aphrodite @mando-writings @okilover02 @demigod-dragonrider-schoolidol @mrschiltoncat @niall2017 @darnitdraco @rougeskywalker @jenrebloggingfics @petersunderoos96 @yoditorian @knivesareout @princess76179 @coldlilheart @voteforpedro09 @literallydontlook

FRANKIE TAGLIST: @mndalorians @artsymaddie @wasicskosgirl @lostgirlheather @jedi-mando @edencherries @buckysalefty @shayna-winchester @triggerhappyflygirl @alwritey-aphrodite @demigod-dragonrider-schoolidol @mrschiltoncat @darnitdraco @rougeskywalker @marvelousmermaid @jenrebloggingfics @petersunderoos96 @a-skov @yoditorian @knivesareout @princess76179 @coldlilheart @dobbyjen @voteforpedro09 

FRANKIE TAGLIST: @mndalorians @artsymaddie @wasicskosgirl @lostgirlheather @jedi-mando @edencherries @buckysalefty @shayna-winchester @triggerhappyflygirl @alwritey-aphrodite @demigod-dragonrider-schoolidol @mrschiltoncat @darnitdraco @rougeskywalker @marvelousmermaid @jenrebloggingfics @petersunderoos96 @a-skov @yoditorian @knivesareout @princess76179 @coldlilheart @dobbyjen @voteforpedro09

After the death of my family on the Sapphire Isle, all save for my beloved sister, Brienne, I did the only thing I could and fled to the North. Taking father’s coin, his sword, his ringmail wrapped in a cloth, and a block of sourdough, I ventured to the edge of Tarth and journeyed across the Narrow Sea. Finding the Starks had been all but coincidence, but now, looking back, I couldn’t imagine a life without them.

My sword was finally clean and I stood from the marbled bench. The stark white tree and her dripping red leaves watched me as I sheathed my sword and tucked the cleaning rag into my belt. 

My heart skipped a beat in my chest as I stole a glance to my left and looked upon the tree Robb had hacked away at on the day of his father’s death. It still bore the marks of his wrath.

I could picture his face when I found him there, still feel his hands clenching at my shoulders. His wails pulsed in my ears and his inflamed words rang out in my mind, 

‘I’m gonna kill him!’  The venom with which he had said them had given me chills then, and did now. 

I thought back to the feeling of my hands on his chiseled face. His bright blue eyes looked down into mine and I thought for a moment they each donned swords of their own; as they had pierced through my armor with such ease. I had told him then that I would be the devil for him, if that meant he would stay with his family. He was the heir to Winterfell, and he needed to remain with his family. If that meant I dueled with an angry king looking for revenge-so be it.

Robb had taken me into his arms and pulled me against his chest, his breath was hot and catching against my neck and his nose pressed into my shoulder. I didn’t know what else to do, so I wrapped my arms around the young wolf, holding his trembling body until he caught his breath again. 

But that was years ago. Robb was older now and so was I. Both used to the heavy weight of grief and loss, the even heavier weight of responsibilty. For a glorious moment, I had hoped the gentle hug and my words to him would have sparked an opening of deeper friendship between us, but it didn’t seem that had been the case, as he had chosen to bury his grief under the skirts of some of the most eligible women in Winterfell. 

With a heavy sigh, I looked from the tree and back down to my boots.

‘They need a wash.’ I said to myself before walking out of the courtyard and into the training grounds. 

~~~~~~~~~~

Robb pulled tightly on the reins as he and his brothers turned the corner into the gates of his capitol city. 

His horse slowed and Jon and Theon’s did the same. The trio moved through the city, slain deer strapped to the backs of their animals. Robb pulled his horse to a stop and tied it on the post nearest to the knight training grounds. As he dismounted, his intense blue eyes looked over his brood of knights while they sparred. 

Robb would never let me know it, but his eyes always sought me out. Always. He knew my form better than his own and dreamed about it when he slept at night. But, as the king, it was imperative he marry a lady, as his mother instructed. She talked very highly of Walder Frey’s women, but Robb knew better than to strike a deal with a snake.

“Can’t believe the boys haven’t killed her yet.” Jon said with a sheepish smile as he moved to stand beside Robb. Jon readjusted the game he had flung over his shoulder as Theon approached, his bounty of rabbits dangling from his neck. 

“I’m surprised Alise hadn’t killed all of them.” Theon smirked, his hand moving to the hilt of his sword.

“She could, couldn’t she?” Robb said softly, more to himself than to his company. 

~~~~~~~~

My dark brown braid hung down my back as I gave my sword another playful spin. I chuckled as I walked in a taunting circle, moving as my opponent moved, my sword quick and agile and ready in my hand. I caught sight of Robb, Jon, and Theon as we circled and I shouted out to Landor, the knight opposite, “What’s wrong, Lan? You don’t want to lose to a girl now that the king is watching?” My eyes flicked up to Robb’s and found them piercing through me.I just caught a hint of a smile on his face before Landor roared and lunged towards me.

His teeth grit and his eyes were set as he made his attack. He striked at me and I lifted my blade to block it. The whine of metal against metal made my smirk falter. I made an attack of my own, twisting to the right and slashing before twisting to the left and blocking his jab. We danced like this, right, left, right, left; my body forcing his back and back and back until Landor grew frustrated and drew his sword up above his head. 

~~~~~~~~

“I’m not lugging your game in for you, Robb, come on!” Jon clapped his hand on Robb’s shoulder, trying to shake his half brother from the trance the knight’s sparring had put him in. 

Robb stood transfixed on the battle, his eyes studying Alise’s form as she blocked then jabbed. 

Jon smirked. 

Robb had had a crush on her since they were children, he’d just never had the sense, or the backbone, to tell her. 

“Just let me watch the end of this.” He said, his eyes focused on the battle but his hand reaching out towards the deer strapped to his horse’s rump.

~~~~~~~~~~

I brought my sword up to block Landor’s blow and grimaced under the weight of his swing. With a loud groan, I twisted both swords and brought my blade around our heads and then downwards, forcing Landor to drop the blade into the mud below our feet. 

The older man grumbled, held his hand up in surrender, and then bent to pick up the blunt edged sword.

I smiled and brushed an errant lock of hair back behind my ear. I held my hand out to Landor as he rose, “You were a formidable opponent.”

“You’re a woman; doesn’t take much to be a formidable opponent to you.” He huffed as he turned his back to me.

I sighed heavily and ran my tongue along the backs of my teeth. I followed quickly in step behind him. “I may be a woman, but I still bested you, old man.”

Landor turned back towards me, his teeth bared and a growl in his throat, “Watch your tongue, bitch, or someone will cut it out for you.”

My features darkened and turned stony. Before I could reply, a hand yanked hard on my braid, throwing me back and into the mud.

~~~~~~~~~~

Robb could see the offense before it happened-Landor’s reddened cheeks and the way the men rallied around him. Robb’s chest puffed and his breath quickened as he watched on. He could almost make out the hairs on the back of my neck bristling when Landor threatened me. I landed in the mud and Robb began his march over to the lot of us, all his kingly justice burning bright in his eyes.

~~~~~~~~~~

The men chuckled as I struggled in the mire, wiping the filth from my eyes and spitting it out of my mouth. 

Robb almost growled as his hand gripped the knight’s pauldron. He pushed into the group and forced the man backwards. Robb’s chest was pounding and he spoke to the man quietly, with words dripping in venom, “Who are you to make a mockery of my knight?”

“Your Grace, we were just having a bit of fun; it’s friendly competition, that’s all.” The man held his hands up in surrender and hung his head.

Robb’s nostrils flared and a muscle in his jaw twitched. “You would lie to your king, Ser Arton?”

“No…no, your grace.” The man stuttered. 

Robb’s attention shifted to Landor. “Is that what this is, Landor? Friendly?”

Landor swallowed and looked down at his boots. “No…no, my lord. It wasn’t.”

The king made an exaggerated look of enlightenment and turned from one knight to the other. “You two are to go to the stables and clean out the horse’s stalls. Now.”

“But, my king, we were just about to head in for supper…” Arton protested, widening his eyes and looking at Robb with as much of a pouty lip as his poor thin ones could manage.

“Oh, were you?” Robb chuckled. “Then take that into the stables with you, I’m sure the horses will enjoy your potatoes.”

Both men stood with their mouths parted, tension and offense simmering hot in the air. A moment passed, wherein Robb had to remind them there was work to be done, “Off you go then.”

After the agitators had gone and the rest of the knights had retired to the castle for supper and ale, Robb turned back towards me.

I was back on my feet and brushing as much debris as I could from my tunic. My heart thundered in my throat and I kept my gaze locked on his boots. “I apologize, my lord, for you having to interfere. It was nothing, I assure you.”

Robb stood in front of me and let out a deep sigh. “Alise.”

I dared to look up into the tantalizing blue of his eyes. As he’d grown older, Robb’s jaw had grown more pronounced, the soft curve of his Adam's apple more bold and the scruff on his jaw long and a dark red brown color. For a moment, it was all I could do to hold back from reaching out and placing my hand on his cheek. 

“You can be honest with me,” He said. “we’re friends. You’re safe with me.” 

I nodded and took a deep breath. “I am not afraid of an old man who is scared because I am stronger than him.”

Robb smiled softly. “But are you afraid of his counterparts?”

My eyes flitted from Robb, to a horse and cart passing behind him, then back again. “Any knight who harms a woman is not a knight at all, and I don’t believe they will jeopardize their livelihoods on my account.”

The smile on Robb’s cheeks widened and I couldn’t help but to soften at it. 

“I think you’re right.” He answered, quirking an eyebrow upwards. A moment of reflection passed as Robb and I turned to walk towards the castle. “You have grown very skilled with the sword.” He said.

My cheeks filled and I smiled broadly. I bent my head down to try and keep it out of his line of sight. “It was all those hours we spent practicing under the weirwood when we were children.”

Robb chuckled and nodded in response, “Those were very good lessons.”

“You thought they were at least.” I teased.

He gasped dramatically and retorted, “They were! You would never have mastered the ‘Stick and Poke’ if we hadn’t!” His gasp turned to a flirtatious smirk and his eyes glittered with excitement.

I wanted to set up camp right there on the footpath into the castle, to keep his face looking at me like that, to keep his eyes filled with adoration. I laughed aloud, my voice flitting up through the stone walls and over the trees. 

Robb thought his heart might beat out of his chest at the sound of it. 

“That’s not a real attack, you just made it up!” I chided him, the grin on my face spreading wide and my cheeks growing hot.

Robb laughed aloud now, his shoulder brushing against mine as he walked. “One day the ‘Stick and Poke’ is going to save your ass and you’re going to have me to thank for it.” That smirk was so close to me now, his eyes looking into mine intently and the smell of him, like leather and pine, overwhelmed my senses. 

I fought to keep from grabbing his cloak and pulling him into a kiss right then and there. “When that day comes, I’ll send you dozens and dozens of flowers in thanks, my lord.” 

Robb tilted his chin upwards and looked down at me in a smug expression. “I look forward to it.”

~~~~~~~~~~

We were still laughing and reminiscing as we walked into Winterfell’s great hall, big green banners hung along it’s rafters, each emblazoned with the direwolf symbol I knew and loved. The sound of men laughing and plates clattering and ale sloshing in horns filled the air. The warmth from the big hearth greeted us happily. 

Robb turned back to me, “Enjoy your dinner, Alise.” His features were touched with melancholy, but his eyes like honey-sticky and overwhelming and warm in my chest.

Before I could say my farewell, Jon Snow interrupted us.

Happy from the ale, I guessed, he clapped a big hand on my shoulder and sent me stumbling forward towards Robb.

The king held a hand out in case I fell.

I blushed, but looked up at Jon.

“Alise,” Jon bowed his head at me and then, “Brother.” he bowed again.

We both nodded back to him and Jon smiled as he looked over Robb’s broad shoulders.

“You forget something?” He teased, his dark eyes sparkling and his eyebrows high on his angular face.

“Ah! The deer!” Robb cursed.