Familiar Feeling / Ned Stark

13. Exorcist

Jon had started feeling better and Catelyn had started finding company with other men again. With Jon alive, Ned was focused on Jon and Everly and Jon's recovery. How unfortunate. She wasted her prayers on a boy she had wanted dead.

"My sweet, sweet boy," everly held jon close. "I was so worried." And she continued to worry and would worry about him for the rest of her life. "You look better already." He smiled back at her. "My sweet boy."

"I feel good mama." He assured kissing her hand.

"Get some rest my heart," Everly requested.  Even though he was getting stronger her worries still remained. She loved him and she almost lost him. 

"He's okay." Ned reminded Everly. She nodded. It didn't matter how much time passed, she had almost lost him. She had almost lost her baby boy.

"Was I not paying enough attention to him?" Everly whispered stroking Jon's head, his thick black hair. "Sansa has been so needy and Robb was asking for me more and with little Bran-"

"Everyly," Ned cooed. "You didn't do anything wrong."

"My baby-"

"He got sick, he got better. It could have happened to anyone." Ned remarked.

"I gave him my shit immune system." Everly decided.

"You can't blame yourself." Ned countered holding her.

"I do though, Ned I almost lost my boy." everly corrected. "Don't you see, I'm the problem. I shouldn't have-"

"Don't you dare think about taking my son away from me Everly." Ned demanded, her face turned down. "You can't leave me. I won't allow it." He whispered kissing her temple. She smiled into him.

"Is that an order, lord Stark?" She questioned, big beautiful eyes staring up at him.

"Yes." He agreed kissing her again. "That's an order." he turned her back to Jon. "Look at him, he's a fighter like his mama."

Catelyn was not happy but when was she ever happy? That was the real question.

"What do you mean? She's the help she doesn't get a day off." Catelyn demanded.

"She was worried sick about Jon, I told her she can stay with him, take a few days." Ned countered.

"I didn't approve-"

"You forget who is in charge here." Ned corrected. "I don't need to ask for your approval," he clarified. She growled. Ned turned on his heel, heading back to his office.

Jon beamed back at Everly, they had taken a horse out and he gripped the reigns. Everly held tight to him, kissing his cheek as they rode. 

"I made your favorites." Everly told him. 

"Thanks." Jon whispered leaning into her. 

"You are good with the horse." Everly added snuggling him close. "You have a gentle touch." He wrapped his arms around hers around him.

"Oh my lord! She's a demon!" Catelyn shouted as Arya ran around the halls screaming bloody murder. "Call the high septon, she needs an exorcist!" 

"She is two years old Cat." Ned groaned. "Everly never had this problem with her-"

"Then call the whore back."

"Catelyn." Ned warned. 

"You gave her leave for some idiotic reason, get her back and tell her to handle this beast!" 

"This beast is our daughter." Ned corrected. 

"And she has the devil in her." Catelyn rasped. Ned scooped up arya and she giggled turning upside down in his arms. 

"This smile is anything but evil." Ned assured tickling her stomach. Arya laughed and laughed. 

Everly was having the very best day, she didnt think of the other children in her care once, it was just her and Jon. She loved every moment of it. Wondered what it would be like if it had just been the two of them. But she would have missed Ned and she did love the children. Robb and Arya, little Bran was a bundle of love. 

"Be careful!" Everly called out, Jon laughed adjusting his hands on the rope. 

"I got this!" He assured swinging down into the water beside her with a splash, he laughed out when he popped up for air, she swam to him brushing his hair back from his face. "I made a huge splash!" Jon declared. 

"The biggest!" Everly agreed starting to shiver from the cold. 

"Did we bring enough blankets?" Jon asked as they pulled themselves from the water.  She bundled him up first. 

"Can have you getting sick again."

"Can't have you getting sick, mum." Jon corrected, she kissed his forehead. He started to take the blanket from his shoulders to give to her but she bundled him up tighter. 

"I have my cloak, lets just head back, its getting late anyways and you know I dont like the bugs." Everly remarked.

"Did you have a good ride?" Ned asked. Jon was exhausted and yawned off to bed that night. 

"We went to the waterfall." Everly began as Ned helped her out of her dirty clothes. "We ate supper under the great wirwood tree. We-"  everly chuckled. "We found this old rope and we swung into the water, Ned it was so much fun." 

"Sounds better than my day." Ned agreed kissing her. "I half thought you were going to run off and I would never see you again."

"I would take you and Arya with me and Jon." Everly corrected. Ned chuckled. "Arya drove Catelyn crazy today didnt she?" Ned nodded. "I love that girl."