The Proposal

Another Offer

Jon wakes up and is still groggy from his night of drinking , he slowly realizes that he is not in his chambers and instead in Sansa's bed and she is wrapped in his arms . He stays like this for a few minutes and the night comes back to him . He doesn't want to move he wants to keep her in his arms .

Sansa starts to stir and she blinks up at him . He looks down at her and squeezes her tighter in his arms .

" Let's stay like this the whole day ."

" What would people say that the King spent the night with the Lady of Winterfell ? "

" I don't care ."

" I don't care either , but what would the repercussions be ?"

"We didn't do anything we're both fully dressed . Let's just be together and shut out the world for now ."

"Yes , that's what I decided last night . For the next few days I'm going to just be with you and not think about anyone else . I deserve this for myself . Is that wrong ? "

" No there's nothing wrong in that . You deserve happiness Sansa . You deserve a lot more than what I have been able to give you . "

" Let's not go there . For the next few days can we just be Jon and Sansa . Just a man and a woman who want to be together ?"

" Yes , we can do that ."

Sansa and Jon spend the next few days together never leaving each other . They are discreet and only but a few of Sansa's trusted handmaidens know where the King spends his nights . They have remained clothed in the bed , not venturing past the point of no return .

They have gone to Wintertown together and Jon is surprised to find that all the orphanages and all the people in the soup kitchens know the Lady of Winterfell closely . She has made sure the orphanages and soup kitchens are supplied with food and extra blankets and as much extra clothing as she could arrange . She has been busy trying to arrange teachers for the orphanages and instruction for the tenant farmers to grow new crops. She is trying to learn and implement new agricultural techniques to increase the food supply during the winter months .  The idea for the glass gardens is being tried in different areas throughout the North . She has been trying to work with Bran and the other Northern Lords to increase trade from wool and lumber that is abundant and cheap in the North . They have surveyed Winterfell and all the improvements that Sansa has singlehandedly managed . Bran is busy with other governance issues in the North and has left the reconstruction of Winterfell up to Sansa . Jon is truly impressed with all her efforts and all the results .

After dinner they go to their separate chambers but when everyone else falls asleep Sansa answers the knock on the door and lets Jon in .

He settles himself comfortably on her bed and watches her brush her long beautiful fire kissed hair in front of her vanity . He is mesmerized and when she turns around she just smiles at him . He motions for her to join him and she does . She settles comfortably in his arms .

" I'm very impressed with all your work Sansa . You have a knack for organization that cannot be taught . All the work you've done with the orphans , the  soup kitchen and the tenant farmers is remarkable . I'm proud of you my Lady."

" Well thank you your Grace ."
Sansa giggles .

" What about Winterfell , are you happy with the reconstruction process ?"

" Of course , it's turning out to be a better version than the one from our childhood . But you've managed to retain its character . The training grounds are much better than when Robb and I used to train . Robb always wanted to expand that area and have another separate area for archery . I think Theon planted that idea in his head . He always thought that since we spent so much time there the area should be better kept and larger ."

Sansa becomes quiet at the mention of Robb and Theon . Jon knows exactly why she's suddenly melancholy .
"  I miss them too Sansa . There is not a day that passes that I don't think of Robb . Of what would have happened had he lived ."

" Can you imagine what he would have thought that you were the rightful heir to the Iron Throne ?  He would have been shocked , but he also would have been your biggest supporter ."

Jon scoffs . " I really don't want anything to do with the Iron Throne ."

Now Sansa scoffs . " That will be difficult since you're going to be married to the Queen and you are Rhaegar Targaryen's legitimate heir."

At the mention of marriage to Daenerys , Sansa's body involuntarily stiffens .
Jon senses that and doesn't know what to say to make it better .

Sansa exhales a deep breath as to fortify herself against something .
" What are your long term plans ? How are you going to live in the South ?"

" I don't know . But at this point I have to ."

" Yes , your Queen and your child will be there and that is where you must be ."

" If you agree to be my Queen I can split my time between here and King's Landing . I would never be unfair in my treatment of you Sansa . I know I'm a selfish bastard but I want you to be my wife ."

" I cannot , I understand that you must marry her . She will be the mother of your child, you should marry her before the babe is born . I know you wouldn't want your child to go through what you did . That would be very unfair ." Sansa sadly shakes her head . " I want you to be happy , I want you to have a family .You could never be happy if you did not do right by your child Jon . You should do right by Daenerys as well . When you leave here , forget about me .Concentrate on your new family ."

" I have been very honest with her . She knows I cannot forget about you . She accepts it. I do not feel guilty about my feelings for you . Yes , I did when I thought we shared the same father , but I no longer feel any guilt . We never acted on anything ."

" Jon no woman wants to share her love , she cannot be happy about your feelings for me. She would be much happier if I was out of the picture , and I completely understand her feelings . We're both in the same boat , but the difference is she is having your child and I cannot break up a family ."

" You are also my family . What about you ?"

" What about me ? I will survive . If anything I'm
a survivor . I will lead a good life , I will try to make a difference here and try to help our people in any way I can . We are lucky we don't have to worry about putting food on our table and heating our homes . Some of the people are really suffering . I will just keep very busy and life will go on , it always does." She seemed resigned in her fate .

Jon took her face in his hands and kissed her fervently .
" I will take you in whatever capacity you want to give at any time . If you change your mind you can always come to me or summon me I will come to you ."

Sansa laughed , " Even when I'm old and gray and you have 10 kids with Daenerys ?"

Jon solemnly , " Yes , even then ."

Sansa , " Time and distance change
everything . Your love for me will fade . You will grow to love her more with time passing and with the children she will give you . I will become a distant memory . And that is how it should be ."

Jon simply shakes his head .

" Jon , let's not talk of this any further . You and I are both here , so let's enjoy our time together ."

With that Jon flips her over in the bed and he starts tickling her and kissing her . They spend the rest of the night in each other's arms and fall asleep .