Familiar Feeling / Ned Stark

19. Mine

"I told Jon." Everly whispered unwrapping herself from Ned. "He... well he's really excited that his parents are so in love." Ned blushed.

"I'm glad... I suppose I should say something?" Ned realized. "Gods, I should say- what do I say?"

"I told him it was my doing that we kept it a secret." she assured. "He doesn't blame you."

"I blame me. I should have fought harder to make us an us. A public us." Ned countered.

"I'm persistent."

"As am i." Ned agreed. "How are things going with theon?"

"He is the sweetest. The boy's are getting along. Jon- it is adorable- he has taken on this new approach to life he holds himself with a new prestige. Like he finally sees he is a stark."

"And a velaryon."  Ned nudged her.

"You know when reading the histories they describe jacaerys velaryon like our jon." Everly whispered. "A prince. But of course he would be. He's always been so handsome."

"Like his father." Ned agreed shamelessly.

"Yes like you." She confirmed.

Most women got unlucky and died in childbirth, it was a common problem of the times, you either died with a million children and grandchildren fighting over your lands or you died giving birth to baby that would never remember your face, your name, your smile, how much you love them. Everly was wrong to keep this from jon but now that he knew his smile was even bigger. He didnt lose his mother. Not at all.

The problem with losing your mother before you're done needing her is that your mind begins to manifest false memories. You start to inject her in places she never was. And the problem with life is, you're never done needing her.

Everly looked to Theon as he clung to her and she realized that he needed a mother. Just like Jon needed a mother. He lost his own and now he was taken from his father, his home.

Everly had been trying to protect Jon but she was done protecting him from the truth. Theon needed that love too.

Theon was nervous, he isolated himself from everyone but Everly, of course he loved Everly, she was impossible not to love. The kids were kind to him invited him in and asked him to play but he stuck to Everly's side. She stroked his hair and kissed his temple, he smiled into her feeling more comfortable as the days passed.

"We are going for a ride." Robb called out. Jon moved to the horses looking for Everly to join but she looked to Theon still tucked into her side.

"You want to join them honey?"

"Are you coming?" THeon countered softly, nervous little eyes staring up at her. He was tall and lanky but he looked so young right now tucked into her side holding her hand like a scared little boy.

"I think a ride is a lovely idea." Everly agreed. "And I love being near my boys."

Jon smiled up at her and she fell in love with that smile every day.

❄️

Ned helped Everly off the horse even though he knew she didnt need it, but ned liked his hands on her.

"Perfect place to play." Jon offered always tending to the younger kids, Bran nodded wiggling to get out of Ned's grasp. Arya ran up to him with a big smile. Arya loved jon, everly loved that arya was so sweet to her boy.

"Good ride?" Ned asked

"The boys are bonding."  Everly agreed wishing she could kiss him but knowing she had to restrain herself.

The kids were taught to ride just as fast as they were taught to walk. Theon watched them throw snowballs from everlys side, watched them getting pelted with snow. Laughter filled the air. Theon glanced up to everly as ned gently smashed a snowball onto his head, a smile filled his face.

"Sorry lad." Ned mused. "Hand slipped."

"Get him!" Everly instructed. Theon smiled balling up some snow. Theon followed without hesitation. This snowy fortress was home now. Everly made sure of that. Ned reached for Everly.

"You cant kiss me here." Everly rasped throwing snow at ned.

"I would agree with you but then... We would both be wrong. " Ned countered trying to get her closer.

"You are crazy." Everly whispered.

"Crazy in love."

"Ned!"

Ned knew that Bran and rickon were not his. He knew for a fact because he hadn't slept with catelyn since the night they conceived arya. When she fell pregnant with Bran, ned stared at her but she acted as though it was his. Again when she fell pregnant with Rickon she pretended it his. She picked the names. Brandon after Ned's eldest brother and Rickon after Ned's father Rickard. As if trying to secure the stark name to her bastards. Ned still hadn't the faintest idea who the father was but he took the boys in, raised the boys as his own because the child should not be punished for Catelyn's actions.

Just as he believed Jon should not receive Catelyn's wrath but Catelyn still treated Jon and Everly both like pariahs. It only made Ned loath her more. Yet Everly, adored all the children. She doted on Bran. She loved his adventure and heart.

"Bran is going to be trouble." Everly warned. Ned chuckled. "He likes to climb."

"What do you think of the new one?"

"Rickon is sweet." She answered. "Sleeping lots but he has a good heart already i can tell."

"I love you with babies..." ned agreed.

"Dont give me that look ned... you know it does things to me."