A/N: AHA! Made it!

An update before midnight still counts as a daily update!

Even if a man was busy for most of the day, a man keeps his promises!

*EDIT!*

Warning! Warning!

Spicy bits in this chapter!

I don't know whether to call it a lemon or not.

I mean this IS Game of Thrones, so that's to be expected, but I thought I should warn you all the same. Naruto and Sansa are teenagers after all-and in love at that-so it only stands to reason that this would happen sooner or later. Especially given that the show itself moved their age up a bit.

Thought I was gone, did you?

Nope~!

I've been updating daily since the start of August, and I'm trying to spread the love around.

As of late, I've been focusing on multiple chapters for some of my more popular stories, but I wanted so very badly to get back to this. I had this whole damn thing written out on paper, an overarching plot just had to write it out. Then catastrophe struck. Not only did I wind up losing two perfectly good computers-one of which and the other being all but useless-but to make matters worse, I lost ALL the notes I had for everything when I moved.

*bows deeply at the waist and begs for mercy*

SORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRY!

Now lets keep this going.

Thankfully my luck seems to have taken a turn for the better as of late; because I've simply stopped caring about some things. Perhaps that's a dangerous path, but I just...can't afford to be as nice as I once was, it seems. Folks just take advantage of you when you do that. Family does. Friends do. After all, in this world...

...its kill or be killed, isn't it?

SPOILERS for Season Eight of Game of Thrones lie ahead, for the night is dark and full of them. There. As ever, a man owns no references, quotes, faces, jokes, or jests used below. A man writes for the common people. That is all. Well, Game of Thrones is over now. And now our watch for the prequels begins. Still, I'm seeing a lot of good fanfiction as a direct result of that...ending and I've had a few laughs, so I'm trying to look on the brightside.

Now then...

...lets have some fun shall we?

SEASON ONE COMMENCES FORTHWITH! FORTHWITH~!

"I am so very TIRED of hiding."

~?

The Broken Tower

The King had come to Winterfell.

This knowledge should have made Ned happy. In another life, it would have. But it didn't. They'd quarreled horribly the last time they saw one another, and again years before that. First with the matter of the Mad King and again with the Greyjoy Rebellion. Now, as he had all those years ago, Ned found himself left with an ill feeling. He liked it not. He knew how Robert's mind worked, his old friend had come to ask him something; and he wasn't sure he would enjoy answering that question. Or any that came after. Robert had children now. Three of them.

The oldest was very nearly of marrying age.

So was Sansa.

Ned had seen the way she looked at Naruto and he, her; in his heart he knew neither would not consent to a marriage proposal of any sort, even if it came from the crown prince or princess themselves. Certainly not if one were forced upon either. They were utterly besotted with one another. Sansa had become more...wild in recent years, less the prim and proper lady she'd been, and more the wolf that was their sigil. A part of him was almost glad for this; because it meant she bickered with Arya far less than she'd had in her younger days, but in the same vein it made her unruly.

And the boy...well. The less said about his temper the better.

No, he thought with a wistful smile, Sansa wouldn't like being forced into a marriage against her will, not at all.

Naruto, even less so.

Far be it from him to force such a thing on them.

Ah, but there was his old friend now.

Despite their disagreements, Ned would always give Robert the respect he was due. Even if he couldn't tell him the truth about...that. Yes, he would always give Robert the respect he was due, king or no. Gods, the man had gotten fat since he'd seen him last. Poor bastard.

Of course, Robert said otherwise.

"You've gotten fat, Ned...

And they laughed.

(...0o0o0...)

If he had to stand here much longer, he was going to lose his mind.

Naruto fought down an urge to bury his head in the nearest wall he could find, if only to stave off the annoying buzz in the back of his head. Today was one of those rare warmer days when the sun actually deigned to show its face, leaving him supremely uncomfortable in his grey leathers and fur cloak. It was tempting-oh so terribly tempting-to just wander off, but no, he'd been called to assemble with the rest of the Starks for the arrival of the king. At least he wasn't suffering alone. Jon looked just as uncomfortable as him. Arya, even more so.

"I shouldn't be here." He groused. "Maybe I should-

Sansa squeezed his hand until her fingernails bit into his palm.

"If you leave me here alone," she smiled sweetly at him, "I will bite you."

A blond brow rose. "And this is a problem for me again, because why, exactly?"

Arya absolutely snickered and earned an instant comeuppance courtesy of Bran's elbow. "Hey!"

Robb's beardless face certainly didn't twitch in a smile just now. Certainly not. Nope. Not at all. Not in the least.

Still, a small part of Naruto had been excited to see the great King Robert for himself. He'd been raised on tales of the Demon of the Trident; a great giant of a man wielding a warhammer as though it were naught but a stick in his hand. The man who murdered Rhaegar Targaryen in single combat and tore the crown from the Targaryen dynasty. They said he possessed a voice like thunder and that he stood more than a head taller than any man. Surely he was a great warrior in his own right. Anyone capable of putting up with a Lannister couldn't be all that bad, either.

This portly man that emerged from the Royal Procession didn't quite live up to that image, but at least his commanding presence voice did.

Not that he felt any disdain for him. Heavy lies the head that crown and all that.

Still he seemed...sad. As though his very soul were weary.

Oddly enough, it made Naruto want to hug him.

Wordlessly the King beckoned Lord Eddard-and by definition the rest of them-to cease kneeling.

A beat of awkward silence passed through the yard.

"You've gotten fat, Ned."

Naruto sank his teeth into his lip to keep from laughing, even as he rose from a bent knee. Lord Eddard Stark was not nearly so composed. His grey gaze flicked down to the the king's bulging belly and both men shared a heartfelt laugh. Not a heartbeat they were embracing like long lost friends, which he supposed they were in a sense.

"And who do we have here? I don't remember this one. What's your name?"

Quite suddenly, he found himself a recipient of that stern gaze.

Crap.

Hastily, he ducked his head. "Naruto, you grace."

"Naruto?" The King frowned. "That's a foreign name, isn't it?"

Naruto ducked his head further still at that, blond bangs hiding his eyes, and Sansa squeezed his hand in silent solidarity.

"Bah, doesn't really matter, I suppose. I'll not make you speak of it if you don't want to." Thankfully, ruler of Westeros dismissed it before he could be further pressed on his origins. "Still, that's a fine weapon you got there, lad." he considered Frostmourne's woeful hilt on his belt. "Know how to use it?

Naruto's head snapped up.

...better than you know." part of him bridled and the words-something dark and angry in him-slipped out before he could think to hold it back.

A challenging gleam glinted in the king's eye. "Is that so? Then you won't mind meeting me in the yard tomorrow."

His words were as much as storm as a challenge, from one warrior to another. They almost made him smile. Somehow the idea of fighting the King-no, Robert!-in pitched combat excited him more than it should have. Any sane man would've turned down such an offer. Warrior or not, this was the King. He nearly refused him. But something held him back.

The same could be said of Robert Baratheon.

By right, he had no need to fight a whelp whose name he barely knew. And yet...as those steadfast blue eyes met his, something in him stirred. A sudden and intense feeling came over him. He wanted to fight this young man. There was a fire in his eyes that felt almost painfully familiar. Looking back, he couldn't explain what spurred this eerie sensation in him, only that it felt right. Like coming home. As if he'd discovered a long lost piece of himself that he'd thought lost. When Robert Baratheon offered a gloved hand Naruto accepted it and found his fingers caught in a frightful grip. Despite himself, he smiled.

"Robert, he's just a boy." Ned put in hastily, "Surely there's no need for this."

"Leave it, Ned." the king laughed. "I'll try not to thrash him too hard."

Events passed by in a blur after that.

Eventually, Naruto found himself forced to meet the royal children.

Oh, the younger boy and the girl were nice enough to him-the former even asked to see his sword!-but their older brother set him instantly on edge. Perhaps that just paranoia. He'd always had an ability to read people; no so much to see in their hearts, but their intentions. For someone who had held a sword as soon as he was able, he suspected the sword at the boy's waist had never been drawn in his entire life. It was as like for show as that false smile of his as that entirely just that-for show. No, unlike his lord father, Naruto found he didn't much have any good thoughts for Prince Joffrey.

"That's the prince?" he scoffed as they finally slipped away. "I don't much like the look of him."

Sansa swatted him on the arm.

"Ow! What?! I was just telling the truth!"

She didn't swat him again, so she must've agreed at least in part.

"I mean, really," the young man continued cheekily as he watched the King and Ned shuffle off to the crypts. "He looks like a constipated little twat. I bet you or Arya would beat his ass in a fair fight." a faint pause. "You know," he murmured, sidling up to her, "I'd rather like to see that, actually. You've gotten quite good with those knives of yours. The scourge of practice dummies everywhere."

That got a very unladylike snort out of Sansa.

"Why, my lady!" Naruto cried, clutching at his chest. "Whatever will your mother say?"

She rolled her eyes and stepped close.

At first he thought she was just going to elbow him.

But then her lips brushed the outer lobe of his ear in a whisper.

"Lets go to the tower."

His heart skipped a beat. "Here? Now? Are you sure that's...?"

She tugged him along before could hope to further protest.

With so much confusion from the Royal Procession, no one thought to pay them any attention. Not even the servants. A stray guard from King's Landing turned his helmeted head as they swept past him; neither saw him remove his helmet. Neither even thought to look. Neither recognized the white cloak of the Kingsguard or the unfamiliar golden hair. Indeed, they paid him no heed at all. Why should they? He was unknown to them, and they did stop to see his face. The same could not be said of this Kingsguard.

His gaze followed them a moment more as they darted toward the broken tower.

"Well. That is unfortunate." Jaimie Lannister sighed softly as he realized where they were going, but made no further issue of it.

Cersei would have to wait for the time being. Perhaps until tomorrow. Part of him was almost tempted to chase after the two, and catch them in the act. There was certainly some wicked satisfaction to be had in that; he could imagine their shocked faces now. But...no. He was no stranger to secret romantic trysts and the rest of him rebelled at the notion. Lady Stark could so as she pleased with whomever she pleased. It was no concern of his. Ah, well. Absence made the heart fonder, as they say...and the idea of the honorable Eddard Stark being so blind to something so obvious pleased him more than words.

He had no way of knowing he'd just avoided a catastrophe.

Naruto and Sansa slipped into the toower and took the steps two at a time, careful to avoid the crumbling masonry. It was called the broken tower for a reason. Not quite unsafe, but still in need of repair. Hesitantly, the former checked the door leading within. He even knocked once for good measure. No one answered and hesitantly, he edged it open. Wouldn't do to be caught unprepared. They'd found a pair of guards up here just last week doing who-knew-what and the last thing he wanted was to be caught off guard.

Still...better safe than sorry.

Slipping in after her, he secured the latch then locked and barred it for good measure. That much was new; a lock discreetly made for them by the castle's blacksmith and painstakingly affixed to the door. The man hadn't asked after his purpose, not with a pouch of gold to allay his fears. He'd been all too happy to make little things for them, a new clasp for a belt, a pair of daggers for Sansa, that sort of thing.

Naruto latched it securely.

Wouldn't do to have someone barge in after them, would it?

This way, if someone did try to enter, they'd at least have time to make themselves decent.

Bran would sometimes climb near here, but he was confident his younger brother wouldn't be in any hurry to do so after the near-fall he'd had. Of course, he doubted such a close thing would keep the young Stark from scaling the weathered walls forever, but hopefully for today the boy's fear would suffice. If not...well. Hopefully it wouldn't come to that, but he'd cross that bridge when they came to it.

They'd lain out a mess of blankets and pillows, alongside a few books...just in case anyone were to check in on them.

There had only ever been one such close call and he was content to keep it that way.

"So, what scintillating novel are we going to read today?" he asked.

...Naruto."

He jerked as Sansa glided across the room to him; moreso when she laid her head on his shoulder.

"Do you care for me?"

She couldn't see his face, but she felt him stiffen against her regardless.

"You know I do." she also felt him bury his head in her hair, felt his arms tighten around her waist.

...do you love me?" it emerged as little more than a whisper, barely a breath spoken in a moment of weakness.

"Say it." she looked up at him, willing him to respond. "Swear. Promise that you won't ever betray me? I want to hear it."

And so he did.

Sansa dithered a moment more; the tiniest thorn of hesitation pricking at her heart and holding her back as she gazed at Naruto. She grabbed his hands and wrung her fingers fretfully against his as his words trailed off into awkward silence. She'd thought herself ready for this; that by leading him here, he would take the initiative. Instead he looked just as lost as she felt. Of course he did. It wasn't as though either had any experience in this. But she was tired of hiding. Tired of being quiet, of being a prim and proper lady her mother wanted to be, of behaving when everyone was watching. She cared about him. Seven hells, she was fairly certain she loved him.

And she was so very tired of hiding.

They'd never done much in the tower before, a few chaste kisses, some lingering touches, simply lying together.

Nothing...more than that. Not really. Not truly.

Was she ready for more?

Did she dare?

...bah!

Then she gave him a shove and he toppled back into the blankets with an outraged yelp. Outrage that was entirely feigned as she pinned him with her lips, straddled his hips, and began to hike up her skirts. When he tried to protest, as she knew he would, she kissed him again, momentarily silencing his protests. But not for long. No sooner had she begun to reveal herself to him than Naruto's brow shot straight up-as did something else she noticed-and his hands snapped up to clasp her wrists before she could wriggle free.

"Are you...sure about this? You don't have to force yourself."

She met his gaze levelly, but the brief flutter of her eyes betrayed her. "I'm sure."

Her mouth was fire on his when she kissed him again, pulse pounding hard and heavy and HOT in his chest, yet for some reason he felt terribly calm. Fingers light as feathers danced across his chest, plying at his jerkin the skin beneath it, then his breeches as she moved lower to deepen their love. Then he flipped her. Amidst their mad tumbling his hands somehow got ahold of the topmost part of her dress and at her concession, gently tugged it loose, revealing those glorious white globes in the cool morning light. With a role of her shoulders she shrugged the rest of it free, allowing it to pool around her waist.

A rosy flush darkened her cheeks as she laid sprawled out beneath him, chest heaving, hair spread round her head like a fiery halo.

She felt him pressing against her, hard and ready, while she was wet and aching for him. Yet still, Naruto hesitated.

"I do love you, you know." he pressed his lips to her forehead as she palmed his face. "I just...are you sure?"

Sansa resisted the urge to roll her eyes; when she shoved him he didn't resist, toppling backward with nary a yelp this time. For all his lack of protest, his body was all too willing. She straddled him again, wincing only slightly as his stiff memeber entered her. There was...discomfort, at first. Still, he didn't move. He was afraid to hurt her. Septa Mordane had told her that the first time would bring pain, but she was prepared for it. Life was pain, sometimes. The pain of not being able to be who you wanted to be, of not having the one you loved.

"Gods." she heard him mutter. "You look beautiful."

Some small, silent part of her preened at this unexpected praise.

Secret kisses stolen in tiny fleeting moments, always careful never to be caught, never to be seen; because if they were caught, everything would be ruined. Now at last they had a moment to themselves. Perhaps even a good hour, before someone realized they were gone. And she was so very, very, VERY tired of being quiet. Yes, there was pain, but in time she found that pain gave way to pleasure. His hands rose to cup her waist, gently steadying her against him as she hastened her pace.

"I don't want anyone else." she snarled in a rare moment of exasperation as she continued to rock her hips against him. "Do you hear me? Its you. Its always been you."

Her words must have struck a chord in him

In time his doubt faded and he became an active participant in their lovemaking. His mouth molded marvelously against hers and she gasped out a moan as he rose up against her. She couldn't say who tumbled over the edge first, nor when; perhaps it was his hands on her breasts, or how tight she was against him. Who knew? Sansa heard her beloved grunt beneath her; that was her sole warning before a sharp and sudden flash of white blazed through her world, leaving her crying out in ecstasy, a cry hastily muffled into his mouth.

They lay quietly together for some time after that amongst the furs, neither trusting themselves to speak properly.

One some level she knew they'd have to move soon; to dress themselves before someone noticed. But she didn't want to. Not here. Not yet.

Sansa found her voice first, little more than a whisper.

"Do you believe me now?" she asked.

Naruto chuckled. "Hard not to."

And then they heard a noise.

Little more than a scuff of boots on stone, but it drew their attention all the same.

Sansa looked up.

And yelped.

"Bran?!"

Naruto blinked, drawn from sweet bliss with a pang of icy horror.

Well. It seemed the young Stark had decided to go climbing after all. He stood there, framed in the light of the window, hanging onto the stone wall for dear life. He didn't even try to climb away. For a terrifying moment the boy wobbled in place and the world hung in the balance; then Naruto rolled free, yanked himself upright and darted out to catch him, hauling the startled lad inside. Bran's mouth was already opening in confusion-and for a horrid instant he almost thought of something truly awful-but he clamped a hand down on his shoulder before suspicion or doubt could take root.

"You must never tell anyone what you saw here." he said sternly. "Do you understand?"

His nose wrinkled in confusion. "Wait...I...you...were the two of you wrestling?"

Sansa's pale face turned crimson. "Not a word, Bran. Do you understand?"

His head bobbed earnestly.

Naruto blew out a harsh breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

"There's a good lad. Run along to your mother now."

Hesitantly, Bran edged past them. Truth be told he didn't much understand what he'd seen at all. He hadn't come up here with any bad intentions; the urge to climb had simply been too much to resist. He hadn't thought to find Naruto and Sansa here, much less doing...whatever they had been doing. What had they been doing? He didn't understand. He was only ten after all. Perhaps it was just best to forget this had happened at all-

A hand settled on his shoulder and he jumped.

"And remember!" Naruto smiled at him, "Its our little secret."

Something in that smile-though it was kind-absolutely terrified poor Bran.

He'd keep their secret, though he didn't wholly understand it. He just...didn't want to see that smile again.

And so the world changed. Just a little. Just a bit. Little more than a tiny ripple in a great ocean. But a difference all the same.

In time, that tiny little ripple would lead to another, and another still, becoming a great wave of change that would sweep over the whole of Westeros.

A/N: I felt Sansa and Naruto deserved some more time together.

Joffrey will kick up trouble next chapter, so we're ignoring the little ponce for now.

Hope you all noticed the parallels to the Broken Tower here; its amazing what can happen when Jaime and Cersei manage to keep it in their pants for a day, eh? Bran still climbed the tower of course because he's BRAN and he doesn't always listen when he should. But instead of finding the Lannisters going at hit like rabbits...well.

Of course he wasn't going to be pushed. Naruto and Sansa only swore him to secrecy.

As to whether our boy will keep the secret, well. Who knows. Time will tell.

Now the timeline's shifted drastically, and I AIN'T DONE YET!

I'm headed to work, looking forward to hearing from you guys and gals when I get back!

So In the Immortal Words of Atlas...

...Review...Would You Kindly?

And enjoy the previews!

Potential ones!

(Previews!)

"What? Fight with actual steel?! Nonononono that's a bad idea! A very bad idea!"

"What's wrong brat?" Robert called. "Afraid I'll knock you on your arse?"

...wanna run that one by me again, Your Chubbiness?"

For a moment he feared he'd gone wary too far.

"Bahahahaha! There's the fire I like to see!"

In the next instant, the blond ate dirt.

"Why in blazes do you want to go to King's Landing?"

"Wouldn't it be better than here?"

...I suppose."

"Such a shame about the prince."

Sansa swatted his arm but he only smiled.

"What? I'm not going to shed any tears for him."

R&R~!