A/N: Thank you to everyone who has sent me messages and supported this story. I appreciate all of my readers so much and I'm sorry it has taken me so long to find inspiration and time to write again. Now that the show is over and I...I was less than satisfied with the ending (to say the least) I feel like I have a better idea of where I want this story to go because I'm not as worried about interfering with that ending lol. Also, for those who haven't realized it yet, this is a slow burn. I can't help it, it's just the way I write stories. I'm sorry for not mentioning it earlier.

Thank you all again. I hope you enjoy this chapter and find it, and future chapters, worth the wait :)

Rose stared upwards as she watched the lift descend down. She nervously anticipated her turn to travel to the top of the Wall.

When the lift reached the ground, Benjen Stark stepped out. He noticed Rose and quickly nodded in her direction, muttering a quick "My lady" out of respect. She called for him as he started to walk by.

"Lord Stark?"

He stopped and turned to her, letting out a sigh. "We all give up our titles here, my lady. I am just Benjen Stark now."

She smiled, nervously, "Y-yes. I'm sorry. It is a habit, you know." Rose was finding herself intimidated by this man for some reason. Or, perhaps, she was just in an anxious state overall as she had not yet decided what she was going to say to Jon when she saw him.

"Did you need something?"

"Yes, I was wondering if Jon Snow was up there already?" she pointed up towards the top of the Wall.

Benjen nodded. "Once the lift takes you up, go left and keep going 'till you see him."

"Thank you my lo- ...Benjen," she said with, again, a nervous smile. Benjen simply nodded and went about his way.

Rose turned back to the lift, staring at it for a moment before slowly stepping inside and waiting for the man operating it to send her up to the top.

She became more anxious as the lift slowly crept to the top of the icy structure. She spent her entire morning meal in silence, thinking about what she would say to Jon. It was also beginning to dawn on her that this might be their last chance at a conversation alone together before she and her brother leave the next day.

Rose was so caught up in her thoughts that she almost hadn't noticed when the lift reached the top. Carefully, she stepped started to make her way down the frozen walkway. She looked for Jon in each of the viewpoints as she continued through the icy structure.

Jon heard footsteps on the ice coming up behind him. As he stood up, he turned to face Rose and smiled at her. He stepped toward her and reached out to take her hand. "I'm glad you're here."

Her hand slipped out of her crimson-colored cloak and took his. She returned his smile, trying to keep the anxiety of her intrusive thoughts at bay. "I wouldn't have missed this time for anything."

The young couple stepped forward to see the world from the top of the Wall. Rose was in awe at the view. Jon watched her with a wide grin as she continued to take the sight in, just as his Uncle Benjen watched him when he saw it for the first time earlier today.

"I can't believe it..." the blonde finally said after several quiet moments, barely speaking above a whisper.

Jon couldn't help but chuckle a bit. "It is amazing."

"The world beyond the Wall..." Rose began. "I... I can't imagine what it would be like getting to travel out there. I have read so many stories about the wildlings living out there." she shook her head and smiled. "I cannot bear this cold weather any longer and they have to live in it every day." Jon simply chuckled in response.

As if on cue, a cold wind rolled through and Rose started to pull her cloak tighter in an attempt to keep the frigid air out. She felt Jon snake his arm around her back and pull her closer. Normally, Rose would have fought the action for fear of being caught but right now she decided to let it happen. Their time left together was limited and his warm body was a welcome relief from the freezing weather. She snuggled her body closer to him and let her head rest on his shoulder.

"I want to go with my uncle on a scouting trip but," Jon hesitated, "but he doesn't think I'm ready."

Rose shifted awkwardly at the idea of Jon going and risking his life to see what lies beyond the Wall. Although he had more than proved himself a good fighter when he started training with the other recruits, the thought of him getting hurt, or worse, still frightened her.

"You haven't taken your vows yet, have you? Certainly, you must become an official man of the Night's Watch before you start going on all of their adventures."

Jon smiled and kissed her lightly on her forehead. "I suppose you're right."

Rose took a deep, shaky breath. "It's better you're here though."

"Why do you say that?" He looks down at her, picking her chin up to look him in the eye.

"It's just..." she felt her confidence in her words wavering the longer she looked into Jon's eyes, "you have so much potential here. You are so talented. You could be master-at-arms or even the lord commander one day." She offered him a small smile and sad eyes with her words.

He chuckled. "Maybe."

Before Rose could say anything else, Jon pulled her in for a kiss. His hands rested softly on her jaw as he felt her wrap her arms around his waist, her hands underneath his cloak pressing against his back. Rose pulled him closer desperately and passionately, their bodies pressed tightly together with only their layers of clothing between them. Jon was enjoying the kiss until he felt something wet against his lips.

He pulled away from her only to find Rose's cheeks reddened by the cold and stained with tears.

"What's the matter?" he asked, his thumb lightly rubbing the tears off her cheek.

She shook her head, pushing her blonde hair out of her face. "Nothing. I just...I'm.." She finally met his eyes. They were full of concern. She reached up and took one of his gloved hands in hers, kissed his palm softly, and held his hand at her side. "I'm..." her grip on his hand tightened, "I'm so in love with you Jon. I don't want to leave you."

Jon flashed her a small smile and with his free hand, he pulled her back in for another kiss. His hand was on the back of her head, fingers tangled into her blonde curls when he felt another one of her tears reach their lips. When their lips parted, he rested his forehead against hers, his fingers stroking her hair.

Rose was staring at the ground, letting her tears fall silently as he spoke. "I wish things were different, but this is where a man like me belongs. If I had anything to offer you or your family, you know I would-"

"Don't say it," she whispered.

"You will always be in my heart, Rose. If I could, I would marry you."

Jon wrapped his arms around her tightly as she began to sob against his chest. He could feel his own tears threatening to escape but Jon knew he needed to be a man and show strength, at least for her sake.

He continued to hold her tightly, softly stroking her back and whispering sweet nothings to her.

"We both knew it would end like this, Rose."

She shook her head against his chest and tried to speak through tears, "Not...not like this."

Jon lightly kissed the top of her head, "With our lives, our families, it had to end sometime."

"But not like this!" she pulled away, wiping her tears. Her cheeks burned from both the crying and the bitterness of the cold air. "We weren't supposed to fall in love! I wasn't... we..." she trailed off, wiping her eyes before more tears could fall.

Jon's brow furrowed and his dark eyes narrowed, "Then what was supposed to happen?" He reached out and placed his hands on her hips, pulling her body close to his again. Her emerald eyes, still shining with tears, were locked onto his brown ones.

Taking a deep, trembling breath, Rose realized this was the time, to be honest with Jon. She was not sure how this would change their future if it would at all, but she knew she could not keep the secret from him. It wasn't fair to Jon.

She was certain her northern lover could feel the anxious pounding of her heart against their chests pressed together as she prepared herself to speak.

"I believe... I... I'm... Jon, I'm pregnant."

There was an incredibly long pause that lasted between them. Rose stepped back and pulled her cloak tight as the cold winds continued. She felt like the smallest person in the world as Jon stared at her in disbelief.

"Are you... how do you know?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I'm not a little girl, Jon. I have been educated for when I have a husband someday," she said, her voice trembling as she felt more tears threatening to fall. "And I remember when Cersei was carrying Tommen. Everything that happened to her..." her voice cracked as fresh tears escaped her eyes, "It's happening to me."

Jon could only stare at her slack-jawed as he tried to absorb her words.

"But I, I'm not married. I'm barely respected by anyone at home because of what my mother was. And I have to leave you." She wiped her eyes, taking a deep breath, trying to calm herself down before she met his eyes again.

Jon stepped forward and took her hands into his. "I can't let you do this alone, Rose."

She shook her head at him, muttering 'no' under her breath.

"No! I love you and I can't let you leave!"

"What do you want, Jon? I can't stay here!" She tried to keep her composure and not fight with him as they had done before.

He shook his head, tightening his grip on her hands. "I haven't taken my vows yet. I don't have to stay. I can go with you tomorrow. We could-"

Rose forcefully pulled her hands out of his grip. "This is where you belong. I won't allow you to disgrace yourself for the relationship I initiated and the bastard that comes from it!"

Jon's breath caught in his throat. Every word she said was like a dagger in his chest. He was at a loss for words, not even able to complete his thought from before she cut him off.

Without allowing the sob she felt at the back of her throat to escape, Rose simply brushed her hair out of her face and smoothed invisible wrinkles on her dress. Her hand lingered over her abdomen when she whispered, "Forget about us, Jon, for your own good."

In truth, she was happy Jon wanted to go with her. She wanted nothing more than his support when she returned to a life where the only person who was even willing to help her was Tyrion, who was disliked by their family in his own right. However, she had yet to even imagine how her father would react, what he would make her do with the child if he would even acknowledge it. She couldn't even begin to think about how he would treat the child's father. In her mind, it was better for everybody involved if she kept her baby's father a far-away secret.

Before Jon could respond, she took one last look at the world beyond the wall. "Thank you for allowing me to see this beautiful sight." She then left the viewpoint and made her way down the frozen walkway back to the lift and returned down to the ground.

On her way back to her guest quarters, Rose endured the crude remarks and lewd looks from the men who had sinful thoughts about her. It was easier for her to listen to those than allow her mind to run rampant with thoughts of Jon, thinking about how she left him hurting and alone and she was now the cause of his suffering. The pace of her steps quickened, feeling another wave of tears building up in her. When she reached the hallway inside, she was surprised to find her brother leaving his room. She stopped, staring at him for a moment. Their green eyes were locked on to each other, neither one sure of what to say once it was obvious to Tyrion where she had been.

"So... did you talk to him?" the Imp asked, noticing her eyes were still reddened from tears.

Rose nodded and motioned for Tyrion to follow her into her room, shutting the door behind them. She sat on the bed and he took a seat next to her, waiting for his sister to speak. Her voice cracked slightly when she spoke, her tears starting to fall as she retold her conversation with Jon. "I told him. I told him not to concern himself with me or..." She shook her head, wiping the fresh tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand. "He wanted to go home with us but I told him he belongs here. Not by my side where the rest of our family could get to him."

Tyrion nodded at her words and took a deep breath before he spoke. "Fair point, but I think you should give him a chance. His father is in King's Landing now, not ours. It might not be as bad of an idea as you see it"

She shook her head. "It's not that simple and you know it. Father always has his way. And Cersei-"

Her brother put his hand up, cutting her off. "I've been navigating their hatred a lot longer than you. You two can have a decent life if you work hard for it. Besides, I'll be with you. I want to help you."

Rose looked over to the window in her room for a moment, considering his words. Then, she turned and faced him. "I've already made up my mind on the matter."

Tyrion opened his mouth to speak but Rose stopped him. She stood up and removed her cloak, laying it on the bed where she once sat. "Please leave, brother. I need to gather my things before we leave tomorrow."

Not wanting to push her further as she was already deeply hurt, Tyrion decided to accept his defeat and stood up to leave. He reached the door and opened it. Before he left, he looked over his shoulder and met her sad eyes again. He was about to say something else, but her slightly swollen, reddened eyes begged him not to.

It was evening by the time Tyrion made it up to the top of the Wall, fulfilling his goal of pissing off the edge of the world. When he finished and fixed up his pants, he turned to find Jon Snow staring at him with a small grin, which Tyrion returned as he stepped closer to Jon.

"I never thought I'd say it but I'll miss you Lannisters."

Tyrion's smile fell and his brows tightened together. "So you're staying? Even after what Rose told you?"

A shocked expression took over the younger man's face. "How do you even- did she tell you before she told me?" he exclaimed, anger rising in his voice.

"That's what you're concerned about?" Tyrion looked at Jon, his eyes narrowed and his brows furrowed. "You're lucky she told you at all."

He scoffed. "Right, I'm so lucky she's leaving... and taking my child with her." Jon felt his stomach drop at the thought.

"She believes she's protecting you."

As Jon spoke, the anger in his tone grew. "I am a man, I should be the one protecting the woman I love! Our child!"

"Then be a man!" Tyrion spat back at him. "Do what you believe is right! Aren't you Starks all about honor?"

Jon stared at him, thinking about his words.

Tyrion smirked, shaking his head when Jon didn't respond. "I would like to believe you're smarter than you seem, bastard."

The bastard grimaced, pain and anger in his expression. "She doesn't even want me with her." His voice was low, laced with sorrow. "I told her I love her and she told me this is the place where I belong."

"Is this where you belong, Snow?" the Lannister asked, his face softening with sympathy.

Jon looked over Tyrion's head into the distance beyond the Wall, considering his words. After a moment, he looked back down at Tyrion and answered him. "I don't know. I don't know anything anymore."

Tyrion let out a long sigh. "I suggest you figure it out before she and I leave in the morning." He extended a hand to Jon and the two men shook hands before Tyrion left. "If I don't see you come morning, farewell Snow."

"Farewell, my lord."