Now and always

Chapter one. A friend. A lover. A brother.

- Hey.- Robb whispered.- It's been six years, huh? I... I didn't have... I didn't have enough courage... I should have... I... I'm sorry. Theon, I'm so sorry! I... I wish...- his voice cracked.- I still... I love you! You hear me? Theon... Please...- he said, his voice cracking.- Please, I... Theon... I'm sorry. Please...- weak-kneed, Robb sank to the ground, in front of Theon's grave.- Please, come back.- he breathed.- C'me back to me. I... I don't care if... If we... I just want... I want you alive! I... I'm so sorry! Please... I want you back! I want you back! Theon! Please! You... You've always...- his lips quivered.- Forgive me.- he sobbed.- Oh, God! I... I will do anything... Please... God, give him back! Give him back! Give him back! You can have another one! Please...- he howled.- Give him back.- he whispered.- Please... Please!- Robb sobbed.- Come back to me, Theon! You... This is all my fault. Please! Just come back!

Robb winced. Six years. Theon died six years ago! After the funeral... Robb never came here... Never had the courage to see the grave... The headstone.
- I'm sorry.- he whispered.- I'm so sorry, Theon, I should have... I should have died with... Theon...- he sobbed.- I should have died instead of you. It's not fair! You should not have died! Damn. Damn!

Robb lowered his head. He loved Theon. He truly did. And he will never see him again... Or will he?

- Stop!- Theon breathed.- S-Stop it... Robb! Stop!
- Stop what, darling?- a wide smirk appeared on Robb's face.- Stop that?- Robb asked seductively. His hand slowly slipped under Theon's shirt.- Do you want me to stop, sweetheart?- he whispered into Theon's ear. His hand went down to Theon's groin.- Do you truly want me to stop?- he asked.
- What happened to that shy little Robb I used to know?- Theon gasped, as Robb grasped his cock.
- Oh! Don't you want me anymore?- Robb asked, disappointed. Theon turned his head to face him.
- Oh Robb... Of course, I want you, I do!- he said, looking at Robb with concern. He did want Robb but... Did Robb want it? Or...- Damn you, Stark.- Theon hissed, rolling his eyes.- Come here, you... drunk ass.- he said as he pressed his lips against Robb's. A soft, long kiss. Robb's hand on Theon's cock. His eyes glimmering with lust. That last bit of self-control Theon had simply faded away. He was no longer able to pay attention to the road...
- Theon! Theon! Look out!- the scream. The pain. The darkness. Robb remembered nothing more...

- Where am I?- Robb whispered. He tried to look around.- Where... Where am I?- he repeated. His whole body hurt.- Theon!- his voice was barely a whisper.- Theon?- he breathed.- W-Where am I? Theon! Anyone? Hey, I... Anyone...- he panicked.

After countless attempts to sit up, the exhaustion took over... The moment Robb's head touched the pillow, his eyes closed... Robb had fallen asleep...

- Hey.- Sansa scratched Robb's chin.- Kitty-kitty.
- Meow...- Robb whispered, looking up at Sansa.
- H-How... How are you?- she asked, concerned.
- Fine.- Robb lied.- I'm fine. Sansa? Where am I?
What... Sansa... What happened?- he whispered.

Sansa sighed. She was not ready. She couldn't be the one to tell Robb. She couldn't break his heart.
- Look, I must go.- Sansa whispered.- I will come back in the evening.- she said.- Then we can talk.
- I... But...- Robb griped her elbow.- Sansa, wait!
- I can't.- Sansa shook her head.- Not now, Robb.
I need to work...- she placed a kiss on his temple.
- You will leave me here?- Robb gasped.- Alone?!
- Not quite alone.- Sansa smiled, getting up from her chair.- No... Not quite alone... - she repeated.

Hardly had it been three minutes when someone came in. Robb sighed heavily, and tried to sit up.
- M-Margery?- Robb breathed. Margery smiled.
- Hello!- she whispered.- You alright? You look...
- Like... Like someone, who wants to know, what the fuck is going on?- Robb asked. If he wasn't so devastated Robb would have burst out laughing.
- Actually I was going to say you look like shit...- Margery grinned.- Robb... How are you, really?
- Dizzy.- Robb admitted.- I feel like... Like shit...- he smirked.- Margery?- he took her hand.- What happened? Why am I here? And where is Theon?
- There was an accident...- Margery whispered.- Robb...- she took Robb's hand to her lips.- I... I'm sorry. There was an accident. Theon...- Margery took a deep, shuddering breath.- Theon is dead...

- Hey, Robb...- a hand lay gently on his shoulder.- Thought you might be here!- Margery whispered.
- Hey, Margery...- Robb breathed.- Weren't you...
- Launch break.- Margery sighed.- You alright?- a  silly question but she needed to break the silence.
- I... Yeah... I guess I am! I'm fine!- Robb nodded.
- Good.- Margery smiled.- ... Hungry?- she asked.
- Ugh... Kinda.- Robb shrugged and got up.- You?
- Yeah. Let's... Let's go and...- Margery trailed off.
"I can't believe he's gone..."- she thought, looking away from Theon's grave.- Let's just go and... Eat. Something. Shall we?- tears flooded her eyes.- I... I just... I still miss him, you know?- Margery said.
- So do I.- Robb whispered, hugging her.- So do I!

Robb sighed. Seventy missed calls. Eighteen from Jon. Four from Balon. One from Yara. Forty from Arya. Two from Sansa. Five from Alannys. Damn.
- You have to call her back!- Margery said.- Robb!
- I... No! I can't! I... I can't!- Robb shook his head. 
- Yes, you can!- Margery said.- I'll go and check if our food is ready and you... Call her back, alright? 
- Margery... What am even I supposed to tell her?

Robb swallowed hard. His hands were shaking as he dialled Theon's mom but he needed to call her back now. Or he would never have the courage to. 
- Missis Grey... Uh... Miss Harlow?- he trailed off.
- Is it Robb? Robb Stark...- Alannys's voice broke.
- Yeah... It's... it's me.- Robb said.- Miss Harlow...
- Is Theon with you?- Alannys asked. Robb bit his lip.- I've called him several times! Such a naughty boy!- she laughed. Robb took a deep breath.- Has he forgotten me? Is he alright? Can I talk to him?
- Miss Harlow...- Robb sighed.- Theon... He is not here. He... Ugh... He's... Faraway. I don't think he will return anytime soon.- he said, barely holding his tears back.- But I am sure... he's... he's alright. 
- Oh...- her voice cracked.- Maybe you... We, uh... Maybe you'd want to celebrate Christmas with us tomorrow?- Christmas? Tomorrow? Robb sighed.
- Miss Harlow... I... Yeah... Sure! Gladly!- he said. 
Never mind that it was June, never fucking mind.

- His mom.- Margery said, quietly.- Is she better?
- Better.- Robb snorted.- She is... Worse!- he said bitterly.- She... She keeps forgetting that Theon is gone. She still calls him! She... She wants me to... To... celebrate Christmas with them... Tomorrow. 
- But, it's June, actually!- Margery said, frowning. 
- Try and explain it to Theon's mother, Margery...
- Let's... Look, we have some food here.- she said, handed Robb a bag full of food.- And drinks here. So... We can go somewhere... Have a picnic, huh?
- Uh, yeah.- Robb said.- I know one... Good place. 

- Wow...- Margery whispered.- It's beautiful here!
- Aye. Theon loves... Loved this place.- Robb said. The sea was calm: no waves, no wind. And no one  around.- M... Margery... Thank you.- Robb lay his head on Margery's shoulder.- For all the support!

Margery had always had a soft spot for Robb. She knew Robb was devastated. But she never tried to use it for her advantage. Never! Robb was forever thankful for that. She never tried to seduce him... Not even once! But she was always there for him!

- I will always be with you, Robb.- she whispered.
- Yes. I know, Margery, I know.- Robb whispered.

                          Meanwhile.
- Hello, this is 911, what's the emergency?- Sansa.
- Hi! I would... I would like to order... Two pizzas. 
- It... What...- Sansa frowned, taken aback. Was it a joke? A prank? Someone drunk? But the voice... So familiar! Painfully familiar! Hold up.- Theon?!