Lion in Savannah(A Jaime Lannister Story)

Visits and Misunderstandings

Scarlet was feeling slightly guilty. Not because she'd slept with Jaime. Not really. She was a grown woman and could sleep with whoever the hell she wanted. No, she felt guilty because she was in love with Jaime. She loved a man she really had no right to love. He didn't belong in Savannah nor to Scarlet, no matter how much she wanted him to. He had a home and something of a family back in Westeros. Scarlet knew that eventually, he'd go back to them and her heart would be broken.

As she always did when her mind and heart were heavy, Scarlet found herself on the front porch of her foster parents. When Scarlet and Oliver were ten years old, their parents had died in a car accident. The Walker family had always been close to the Goldens. Isaac and his wife Sarah couldn't stand to see the twins split up. So, they took them in and raised them alongside Jason, Sarah and Isaac's own son. When she grew up, Scarlet often went to Sarah for heart-to-hearts, like the one she desperately needed now.

The door opened and a smiling Sarah stepped out. "Scarlet! Come on in, girl." No sooner was Scarlet over the threshold did Sarah have her in her arms. Scarlet loved Sarah's hugs. They made her feel loved. Scarlet pulled back and studied Sarah's face. Her dark skin was still smooth as honey except for the laugh lines around her eyes and mouth. And she smelled of apple pie.

"Been bakin'?" Sarah nodded. "Of course. It's Isaac's birthday. That man loves his apple pie." Scarlet laughed, but there was no real humor in it. "What's wrong with you?" Scarlet shook her head, but Sarah wasn't having it. "Nuh-uh. None of that. You best tell me what's wrong before I knock a knot upside your head." Scarlet's eyes widened. No matter how old she got, Sarah still scared her sometimes. So, Scarlet told Sarah everything. Well...almost everything. There were some things her foster mother didn't need to know.

When Scarlet finished, Sarah sat in silence for a second. "I don't see the problem, sugar. Is he married? Got a girlfriend?" Scarlet told her that he wasn't. "Do you regret kissing him? Sleeping with him?" Scarlet shook her head vigorously. "Not at all! I l-" she cut off and Sarah smirked. "I see. You love him, then?" Scarlet's silence was enough of an answer for the older woman. Not that it mattered. Sarah had the ability to see what people were really thinking.

"Does he love you?" Scarlet gave a little shrug. "I don't know. I think he might, but he hasn't said so. Saying it for the first time while we're havin' sex doesn't count." Sarah chuckled merrily. "You're right. But have you said it to him? Have you told him how you feel?" Another head shake. "Well, child, how are you ever going to know if you don't say anything?"

Scarlet didn't have the chance to respond before the door opened again. "Isn't that Scarlet's truck on the curb? And do I smell apple pie?" Isaac sauntered in with a huge smile on his face. Scarlet stood and hugged Isaac. His hugs were better than Scarlet's fathers. He gave hugs that made her feel protected and warm. The kind of hug that enveloped her whole body. "Happy Birthday, Isaac."

"Thank you, Sweetpea. What brings you here?" Scarlet wasn't sure what to say. Isaac was very protective of her. She wouldn't have to say anything. Sarah did it for her. "Scar's got herself a man." Isaac's head whipped back around to Scarlet. "Good boy?" Scarlet nodded. "Good. If he hurts you, he'll answer to me. And if you stay together, I expect to walk you down the aisle." Scarlet giggled. "Ya know there's no one else I'd rather give me away. But I don't think we're anywhere near there. Besides, there's a chance he'll leave and go back home."

Isaac sat down next to Sarah and wrapped his arm around her. "Do you love him?" Of course that same question. "Yes." Isaac nodded. "Then it'll work out. Love has a funny way of doing that. Working out, I mean. I almost didn't marry Sarah. She went off to nursing school and I didn't think I'd see her again. But somehow we found ourselves in the same place again. If it's meant to be, the two of you will be together in the end." Scarlet left the Walker's house feeling better than she had before.

Scarlet had one more stop before going home. She had a meeting with Noah in the local bar. It had been almost three months now since she and Jaime had started their relationship and she wanted to be sure Noah was handling it well. Not to mention he'd called her telling her that he had some information for her from her last appointment.

Noah was already waiting for her when she got to the bar. "Hey, Noah." He gave her a smile. "Hey, Scar. How are things goin' with your new beau?" Scarlet laughed. "I think they're goin' pretty well but ya know me. I've never been good at readin' men. Jaime could feel somethin' completely different than me." Noah reached over and placed a hand over hers. "He'd be stupid not to love you, Scarlet. Sure you're stubborn as all get out and you've got somethin' of a temper, but you're a great girl." Scarlet rolled her eyes. She knew that he was trying to be good friend, but that he was still little upset that things hadn't worked out between them.

Noah cleared his throat. "Scarlet...about your last appointment. I don't think you're gonna like it." Scarlet looked at him in confusion. Noah wasn't one to beat around the bush, so when he told her exactly what was going on, she had no choice but to believe him. She sat there stunned while Noah patted her hand. Neither of them noticed Jaime walking passed the window outside.

When Jaime saw the two of them, he felt his blood boil at first. Then, he felt his heart breaking. Didn't he mean anything to Scarlet or had she just been using him the way she accused Cersei of doing? As his emotions were going crazy, Jaime stalked back toward Scarlet's home. By the time he arrived, anger had taken over his body until it was near rage. Clearly the past months had meant nothing to Scarlet. Not like it did him. Well, he wasn't going to put up with that. He was going home.

He flung open the door of the home, startling Bronn. "What the fuck?" Jaime glared at him before growling, "We're going home." Bronn arched a brow. "Found a way, did ya?" Jaime shrugged. "The river. We got here through it. Stands to reason we should be able to get back that way. I figured it out weeks ago." Bronn didn't say anything at first. He crossed his arms over his chest and looked at Jaime. Behind the mask of ire, Bronn could see the hurt in Jaime's face.

"So, yer just gonna leave? Leave everythin' we've become here? Leave Scarlet all alone?" Jaime clenched his fist. "Scarlet doesn't love me! She loves Noah and I'm not going to stay and be used." Bronn dropped his arms and his mouth opened in disbelief. "Yer a fuckin' idiot, Lannister. That woman loves ya more than I've seen anyone love anythin'. Ya can't just leave her like this."

"The hells I can't! I'm going right now. Are you coming or not?" Bronn shook his head. "Someone is gonna have to pick up the pieces of that poor girl's heart when she finds out you've left without a word." The pain was evident in Jaime's expression. "Bronn-" Bronn cut him off.

"No. Just go. Go back ta bein' the man ya were before ya met Scarlet. Go back ta fuckin' yer sister who will kill ya the minute ya become useless ta her. Forget that Scarlet loves ya fer who ya are." Bronn left the room, but not before punching Jaime square on the jaw. Jaime rubbed the spot, but walked back out the door of Scarlet's house. Brutus and Chief whined as he left the porch. "Take care of them, boys." He made his way toward his destination. The Savannah River.