Familiar Feeling / Ned Stark

7. Falling

Catelyn was even more moody and bossy when she was pregnant Everly decided.

"Up there. Yes it has never been cleaned before. You need to do that." Catelyn demanded pointing at the top of the tallest cabinet.

"No one sees up there let the dist bunnies live!" Everly half teased but Catelyn scowled back at her. "Of course my lady. I will find a ladder and get up up there."

"Use a chair." Catelyn grumbled. "Break your neck." She added as she huffed off.

And everly would have broken at least an arm or maybe her tailbone if Ned wasnt beside her to catch her when she fell.

Strong arms wrapped around her. One behind her back, fingers firmly pressed to her arm and the other over the top of her thighs, his hand gripping close to the crease of her ass. She rolled in toward his hard chest, hands pressed to his sculpted pecs, and her face buried against his crisp, white shirt.

"I've got you." The vibration of his words rumbled against her palms and shot straight toward her core. Her body came to life, acknowledging every part of her in contact with him. Her heart thumped painfully against her chest, either from adrenaline or excitement— excitement that moments had passed, and he still hadn't let her go. They were in public, sure not the same to declaring their love but still he was holding her out in the open. Swallowing hard, she rose her head and looked up into his eyes, watching them darken right before her, with need. 

"Thank you, Ned." Everly whispered. The arm across her legs, slowly lowered them back to the ground, but the arm around her back, kept her close. Could he feel her heart beating against his chest? Or the speed at which her lungs were trying to expand? Solid ground hit her feet, yet she still floated above the ground, her hands holding tight to him.

"I'm always here to catch you." Ned assured as his hands grazed down her sides. "What were you doing up there?"

"Lady Catelyn wanted me to break a neck and she could be rid of me of course." Everly remarked sweetly. 

"Bitch." Ned grumbled. 

"It's fine because you were there to save me." Everly reminded him. 

"And if I wasnt and you broke your neck?" Ned countered. 

"But you were, lets focus on the good," Everly offered. 

"I dont know how you stay so positive." Ned remarked wanting to kiss her but holding onto her still was good enough for now. 

"Well-" Everly stopped short seeing Jon peering in. "That little face makes everything better!" Everly declared crouching down and opening her arms for Jon. "Hi honey, I missed you!" 

"I didnt go anywhere." Jon corrected as he giggled into her. 

"I know but I still miss you when you are gone." Everly informed him. "Every moment with my Jon is a million times better than a moment without." 

"Really?" Jon questioned. 

"Of course!" Everly agreed. "You are my little man, I love you." 

"I love you too." Jon agreed. "Lady Catelyn was yelling again." he added softly bringing his lips to her ear. 

"She was yelling at you? Whatever for?" Everly demanded. 

"I didnt do anything." Jon assured mistaking her anger for Catelyn as mad at him. 

"Oh, honey I'm not mad at you, I'm upset with her." Everly assured seeing his eyes go wide. "I'm mad at her for yelling at you." Everly pressed a kiss to his forehead. 

Ned went to have a talk with Catelyn but she claimed she couldnt be bothered she was having a baby. That was a good excuse, she couldnt use that every day though. 

Catelyn didnt want to be disturbed after her birth, she passed off her daughter and Everly took to the babe right away. 

"She's so cute, has hair like yours. Darker like you and Jon." Everly remarked. "Shes precious, has Catelyn's loud mouth though." Everly murmured as she cried for food. 

Ned watched her cradle the babe to her, bouncing her gently and fixing her swaddle. Everly was such a good mother, even in their current predicament, Everly still found the good in life. In someone elses baby. 

"Arya Stark." 

"Name of a warrior." Everly declared. "She is a fighter, I can tell, she is going to be the opposite of your little princess in the making." 

"I agree." Ned remarked wrapping his arms around Everly, she leaned back into him and she could also pretend that Arya was hers, her baby and neds. That this was their life, their love and nothing would get in the way. Almost.