"I made sure that you've got enough food to last until the Wall, and enough wine too." Maege winked and Catelyn laughed. It felt so good to laugh, though Catelyn did feel sad about leaving Maege so soon. Friends were things that Catelyn Tully Stark had a significant lack of.

"Thank you, for everything."

"You weren't even here for a full week, Catelyn. It was hardly any trouble at all." Maege smiled warmly. Maege Mormont had a very contagious smile, Catelyn had found, once she started smiling everyone just seemed so much happier. Catelyn wished she had "I would like to see those two sweet babes before you leave, though. Jocelyn and Gerion, you did well with those ones Cat. Sansa and Arya too, true and good children. Well done."

"As a your own daughters." Catelyn nodded. Perhaps once she would have offered a betrothal between Rickon or Bran with one of her daughters, to make sure they ended up with someone from honest means, but now she realised just how cruel and unjust marriage was in the life she was living. Why should parents force their children to marry someone they barely know? Looking back, Catelyn had been very lucky to end up with Ned, her caring, sweet and kind Ned, but people like Cersei Lannister and Lysa were not so fortunate. Her children could marry whomever they wanted, lowborn or highborn, though preferably someone Catelyn approved off. "All will be just as beautiful and fierce as their Mother."

Maege laughed. "Fierce for sure, I'm not sure about myself being beautiful though. Beautiful is more a gene of your family."

Is it vain to know myself beautiful? That was a question Catelyn had been asking herself for a long while now. She saw how men looked at her, there was always a woman Catelyn considered beautiful staring back at her the looking glass. Her waist was slim, her breasts not to large but not to small, hips wide enough that no one had ever worried about her in the childbed. Perhaps it was her originality that made her so attractive to men, the was her hair burnt a fiery red in the sunlight and her light freckles gave her a look of youthful innocence behind her stern blue gaze. "Mother, can Jorelle come with us to the Wall?" Arya ran out to the courtyard with Jorelle Mormont closely behind her. They'd become good friends in their short time together, the fought together and ate together, it made Catelyn happy to see Arya connecting with another girl her age. Even so, they could not take Jorelle with them.

"I'm sorry Sweetling, Jorelle must stay here with her family." Both younger girls frowned.

"Come on Jory, you'll see each other again I'm sure." Maege smiled, both girls grinned at that.

"Arya, get your things together, Jorelle can help you if she wishes. We're going to see Jon." At that, Arya's face lit up like a thousand candles. Despite knowing they were going to the Wall, Arya had always just assumed they wouldn't see Jon because of how much Catelyn had previously hated him. The very thought of her bastard brother was enough to make her seem so happy, it made Catelyn feel even more guilty.

"Yes Mother!" Arya practically squealed, running off Jorelle in a fit of giggles, similar to how Sansa and Jeyne Poole had when they'd lived in Winterfell. Little Lyanna Mormont came from inside and asked her Mother to help her with her axe, so Maege left Catelyn alone in the courtyard with a small apology.

With all her possessions put firmly in her boat, Catelyn went to the nursery to get her youngest two children. Sansa had groaned for hours about getting back on the sea, but with the assurance that the trip would be less than a day she reluctantly agreed to go without any more protest. "Did you sleep well, Sweetling?" Catelyn asked Gerion as he stirred gently next his sleeping sister. They had gotten so much bigger, Gerion could almost sit up for himself now and Catelyn was going to have to find larger clothing for both of them. Jocelyn was by far the smaller babe, though the maester on Bear Island said that was perfectly normal. Both were just as precious to Catelyn.

She kissed his forehead and he rested his head on her chest sleepily. Gods, I hope I can find Bran and Rickon before too long. Have they thought of me, I wonder? In hatred and pain, I am the woman who abandoned them, who left them alone in Winterfell to fend for themselves. If we do find them, I pray they will be as forgiving as their Father would have been, not that deserve their forgiveness at all.

Arya snorted. "Do you think we could sell Jocelyn's hair and pretend it's gold?" Both Catelyn and Sansa started laughing at that, it took a second for Robin to understand the jape and then he joined in. "I mean, just look at it! Gerion's too, they look like little statues."

"They look like little Lannister's more like." Sansa muttered as she watched her younger sisters playing together, and simultaneously watching Gerion wriggle around on the floor. The little boy squealed and grabbed a stand of Sansa's long auburn hair, getting it all tangled in his tiny chubby hand. Catelyn watched her children, a warm feeling spread through her body and she only wished Ned and her boys could be with them. Are you angry about Jocelyn and Gerion, my love? Despite being told he wasn't, she kept feeling somewhat guilty about it. Not about the children, about being with another man.

"I hope they don't turn out like the last pair of Lannister twins did." Arya sighed. Catelyn almost said that the last set of Lannister twins were Willem and Martyn Lannister, but held her tongue. "I mean, I guess it would be unlikely that they end up, you know, being together." She faked a gag. "But I don't think they'll be all crazy and manipulative and cruel. Not with someone like you as a Mother." Arya smiled at her Mother and received a smile back, and a excited gurgle from Gerion.

There was a short silence. "What do you think that Wall is like?" Robin asked.

"Cold." Arya laughed. "Colder than Winterfell at least."

Robin groaned. "I didn't think it could get much colder."

Despite it snowing often in the Eyrie, Robin was still a Southron child. Even though he wasn't as weak and sickly as he had been, Catelyn often worried that he wouldn't be able to handle the cold in the North. She could still remember how hard it had been for herself to adapt to the harsh weather when she'd lived in Winterfell for the first few years, and even then she had hot springs and fires and the comforts of a castle. Robin just had a medium sized ship and a dozen furs. "Do you think we'll get to go beyond the Wall? Will Jon let us? Old Nan said there are giants beyond the Wall, and lots of direwolves."

"Jon will never let you go beyond the Wall, Arya. There are wildlings, it isn't safe for a small girl like you." Arya looked offended and the term 'small'. "Even if you can poke holes in them with your needle."

"Do you think Jon will let me at least fight the wildlings if they come to close to the Wall?"

Catelyn sighed. "If he does, he and I will be having words."

Walking up to Castle Black was like walking to a decaying fairy tale. Catelyn had been told all about the brave men of the Night's Watch defending the realm from the perilous white walkers, wildlings and such. The Castle she was looking at was breaking down, little more than a ruin. Really? Is this really Castle Black? Truthfully, she was very underwhelmed.

After their ship had left Bear Island and gone back to the mainland, they had set off straight away for Castle Black. There wasn't really much else to be doing en route so they had covered as much land as they could each day, even if it meant they all had terrible sores from the saddles. It had snowed quite heavily on the third day of riding, and despite her best efforts to keep them warm Catelyn was worried that the twins could have caught a chill. "So, this is it." Arya said as they stopped outside the gates. "Castle Black."

"Castle Black." Robin repeated, his breath looking like smoke in the cold air. One of the tribesmen Catelyn had taken with her shot an arrow over the gate to try and get their attention; there were two posts by the gates that were unarmed. After about what felt like a moon of waiting, the gates finally creaked open.

"Who in all the seven hells are you?" A man asked, scratching his chin through his big brown beard.

"Lady Catelyn Stark, rightful Lady of Winterfell and Lady regent of the Vale-"

"And the Queen." Yetta added in quickly.

Catelyn sighed and then continued. "I come with Lady Sansa and Arya Stark, as well as two small babes, Gerion and Jocelyn Lannister. Pray, we seek shelter at Castle Black, and we have been riding for many days now. My babes are ill, I fear, and my men are in desperate need of a fire."

The man looked at the suspiciously. "I'm gonna close the gate. I'm not sendin' ya away, just need to talk to Lord Snow first." Catelyn thought about demanding to be let in momentarily but decided that it probably wouldn't be a great idea. She didn't want any more resentment between her and Jon Snow, there was enough as it was. And besides, she didn't want her children to think that being a Queen made them above other people. After all, when she died Sansa would become a Queen after her. That is if I ever die...

After about ten minutes Jon Snow appeared by the gates. He looked more mature that he had the last time Catelyn had seen him, his hair was longer and he had started to grow a beard. He looks like Ned, gods. "Jon!" Arya cried. "It's me, Arya! Can you please open the gate, it's getting bloody freezing just standing here." Jon laughed and signalled for the gates to be opened, it looked like the other men were having a hard time believing that she was really Lady Arya Stark.

Jon was standing on the other side of the gates when they opened fully, Arya ran straight to him and hugged him tightly. When she finally pulled away Jon cleared his throat and looked at Catelyn. "My Lady." He said very formally. "What brings you to Castle Black?"

"A lot of things." Catelyn paused, taking in what her stepson had become. She hadn't realised that he was Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, nor had she realised that it was possible for him to look more like Ned that he had when he'd left Winterfell. Catelyn clutched Jocelyn close to her chest when Gerion began to cry from where Sansa was holding him. "I would be happy to explain in great detail, but I fear the babes have caught a chill. Is there a maester here that could possibly take a look at them?"

"Of course, my Lady." Jon nodded. "Satin, take Lady Catelyn and her babes to maetser Aemon. I'll see that her party are given food and suitable chambers."

Catelyn took Gerion from Sansa and followed the boy towards the maester's chambers. "What brings you here, m'lady?" He asked.

"I'm looking for my sons." Catelyn replied. "Your lord commander's half brothers."

"Beg pardon m'lady, you're his stepmother?"

She nodded. "Though I haven't been the warmest mother to Jon, I admit." They stopped as Satin knocked on a door, the man who opened it was the most overweight Catelyn had seen since Lord Manderly last came to Winterfell.

"This is Lady Catelyn, Lord Commander's stepmother." Satin said. "She's been travelling for a while and is worried that her babes have gotten sick. The Lord Commander says that maester Aemon's to look at them."

The fat boy nodded and opened the door wider for Catelyn to come in. "I'm Sam...Samwell. Tarly."

"Catelyn Tully." Catelyn hated calling herself 'Catelyn Lannister', and wasn't really allowed to called herself a Stark anymore. Tully would have to do. The maester hobbled over to them from the window he'd been sitting by, his eyes cloudy and limbs frail with old age. She turned to the old maester. "Pray, could you please see if my children are ill? It's only that they've been on the cold for a while and I've done my best to keep them warm but..." She trailed off.

The man smiled. "There hasn't been a baby here in many years. I'd be happy to examine them, Sam will you put them on some furs?"

"Of course." Sam said and awkwardly tried to take Gerion from Catelyn's arms. It was quite clear that he hadn't had much experience with children himself, Catelyn suppressed a giggle.

They laid Gerion and Jocelyn next to each other on the furs. "What are they called?" Sam asked.

"Gerion is on the left, Jocelyn on the right." Catelyn replied. "That is the heir to Casterly Rock, can you believe it?"

Sam looked shocked. "Well...that umm, certainly explains the hair. Does Jon...I mean the Lord Commander, does the Lord Commander know that?"

"My daughters may have told him, though I doubt it." She bent down next to them and wrapped the furs closer to them. "Though I think that it is important that he is aware of my current situation. Would it be alright if I left them here while I speak with him?"

"Oh, we'll be just fine here my Lady." The maester smiled.

The Lord Commander's room was just as Catelyn had expected. There were tallow candles burning by the window sill and a fire burning on the left wall where a white direwolf was laying asleep. Sansa and Arya weren't there as she had expected, however. For the first time in countless moons, Catelyn Tully and Jon Snow were alone.

"My lady, all of Castle Black's hospitality's are yours." He remained seating as he spoke. "However, I was hoping for an explanation for your sudden arrival." She sat down opposite him and sighed, interlacing her fingers and staring at the ground.

"I'm sure a lot has happened for you since we last saw each other, Lord Commander." She started. "Much has happened for me as well. I have reason to believe that Bran and Rickon were not killed when Theon Greyjoy took Winterfell and have come North to find them. As for, well, my party, they are tribesmen from the Vale and family."

Jon took a moment for that to sink in. "How could you know that Bran and Rickon are still alive? Men claimed to have seen their bodies hanging from Winterfell's walls, black with tar."

"Black with tar." Catelyn repeated. "They were boys, true, but not my boys. They could have been anyone for all we know. I don't know where they are or where to find them, but I do know that they live. Lady Mormont had heard whispers of Rickon being on the isle of Skagos with a wildling woman and I had hoped to go there to see if it was true."

"You want to go to Skagos?" Jon's eyebrows raised. "The island if full of cannibals, my lady, if Rickon was there it is very unlikely he lived long. I'm sorry to say it but they are gone."

She shook her head. "No. They aren't, I...you wouldn't believe me if I told you how, but just know that I do."

"I think you'll find I'll believe a great manner of things, my lady." He replied. "I have seen things that shouldn't exist, I've seen terrible wonders that have shaken me to my very core. Believe be when I say whatever you have to say will not shock me."

"It may not shock you, but you will think me mad. Gods, you probably already think me mad. I am going to Skagos, but I am not taking my children with me. We may not get along but I know you are family to Sansa and Arya so I am asking you to protect them when I am not here. If not for me, for the father you both share, for the man I loved." She paused, taking a deep breath. "And as for the babes, I hope you will protect them for me as well. They are well loved by my daughters and, if nothing else, have valuable blood ties."

"They are Lannisters." He said; it wasn't a question. Their golden hair would make it hard for anyone to think otherwise. "I'm assuming Tywin's, though I suppose they could be Tyrion's."

"Their sire is lord Tywin." She confirmed. "Though I was wed to him against my will and never intended to have any other children. I almost took moon tea but I hadn't the heart for it." Catelyn stood up to leave but paused when she got to the door. "I'm sorry, Jon. For everything, how I made you feel as a child. I was unfair to you and I see that now. I am not seeking your forgiveness, only that you know that I am sorry."

"You were forgiven a long time ago, my lady." He smiled at her before she left him alone to think.

Total apologies for lack of updates and for the total crapness of this chapter. I'll try and update soon and I promise the next one will be better. Also I've written a chapter of a new story called Grey Waters about Cat and Ned (Modern AU) and if anyone like them then I hope you check it out xx

Also, I haven't edited this properly so there will probably be mistake sry :((