Thank Me / Criston Cole

20. Gauntlet

"What did Helaena do?" Mallory countered. "I think that just like I shouldnt be blamed for my sisters mistakes, Helaena should not be blamed for her idiot family."

Criston had been an only child, then he was a soldier he was meant to be seen as a weapon and not heard. He liked how open Mallory was, how much she talked. Sure some said she sucked up all the oxygen in the room but if Criston was going to suffocate on lack of oxygen he would gladly give his last breath to hear mallory saying she loved him one more time.

Criston never really felt like he had a family until he had mallory. She always made him feel included. She invited him into her inner circle with Tully and Tully accepted him easily, seeing how much Mallory loved him.

"I want to put a baby in you. I want to start a family with you." Criston declared. He didn't know if he knew what he was saying until he said it but he meant every word and mallory hoped that meant he was done with guarding whiny Targaryens and onto loving her full time. 

"You better." Mallory agreed leaping up into his arms, her legs wrapping around his hips. "Right now. Should we start practicing right now?" She suggested.

+

"Hi mum." Mallory kissing her cheek as she moved to the tea cups. "This smells lovely."

"It's just black tea sweetie." Lou corrected.

"Which is what I like first thing in the morning, to wake me up I slept.... great because I was in my bed last night." Lou rolled her eyes.

"How is he?" Lou countered.

"Who?"

"He's a handsome man... man." Lou repeated.

"He really is." Mallory agreed resting her cheek on her palm, leaning forward dreamily.

"You likes you."

"He does. I love him. He loves me. It's just..."

"Things are changing the capital." Lou reminded her. "Positions are shifting."

"I know." Mallory agreed. "I want him forever."

"Forever is a long time." Lou reminded her.

"You still love father."

"I do." She agreed. "Criston treats you right? Takes care of you?"

"He does. I miss him when he's gone and I want to kiss him all the time." mallory remarked. "It's a bit distracting actually." Lou chuckled.

"I bet. I remember those days with your father-"

"Gross." Mallory countered.

"It's true. I couldnt keep my hands off him."

"Gross." Mallory repeated.

"I'm sure its how you feel about Cole." She countered.

"You think?"

"I do." Lou agreed.

"You think he could want me forever?"

"I do." She agreed again. "Keeping fight for him."

"He said he wanted to put a baby in me." Mallory admitted.

"Well tell him to put a ring on it first." Lou decided.

"Yeps that exactly what I said." mallory lied.

"Darling you didn't tell tully? I thought she had like a connection right to your brain." Criston mused. Mallory smiled back at him as she poured them more wine.

"Wait what?" Tully laughed out, leaning closer. larys smiled back at them, they were getting back to some normalcy since Rhaenyra invaded the capital. Larys didnt think he wanted to stay in the capital anymore. Maybe Mallory would want to take a trip to Casterly rock and they could tag along for a little while they got their footing back.

"I told her I was going to put a baby in her, and she told me I'd better." Criston remarked, Mallory smirked back at him.

"Mallory basically threw down the gauntlet." Tully decided. Mallory laughed out. "Now put a ring on it."

"Yeah honey, put a ring on it." Mallory agreed plopping down in Criston's lap.

Working on it.