Daenerys blinked open her eyes and shivered in annoyance. It felt like she had finally just fallen asleep after tossing and turning for hour after uncomfortable hour. Sunlight was already seeping through the curtains, but she hoped she could still steal at least another hour of much needed rest. Both Sam and the midwife had confirmed that her third child would be born within the next two weeks, but Dany wished the child was already there.

"Jon," she called in a hushed tone that sounded more like a whine than she intended. "Fetch another blanket, I'm cold."

No answer came from her husband's side of the bed and when she glanced over her shoulder she found the bed empty.

"Jon?" she called once again, thinking he might be somewhere in the chamber. When she still did not hear him reply she reached over and pulled his side of the covers over her body and fell back to sleep.

XXXXX

"Do you know how long you'll remain here on Dragonstone, Your grace?" Tyrion asked as Dany paced back and forth while reading over the crown expenditures he had brought with him from King's Landing.

"Most likely another month," she replied, setting the document on a stack of others. She poured a glass of wine and offered it to her hand. "Why? Is there a reason for me to come back sooner?"

"Merely curiosity. The people will be anxious to greet their knew prince or princess."

"As am I. Not much longer now, the-"

"Mama! Did you see?" Aemon burst into the room, a ball of energy.

"Aem, what did I tell you?" Jon said, close on his heels.

"That I should knock first?"

"And did you?"

The four-year-old began to nod before reluctantly dropping his head and shaking it.

"No, but she's my Mama!"

"And I'm everyone's queen," Dany finished gently. "Say hello to Lord Tyrion, my love and then tell me what has you so excited."

Try as she might, Dany found it difficult to be upset with her son. She and Jon both believed in teaching him manners and how to be polite, but as weary as she was of late, the sight of her first-born did wonders to warm her heart. It was impossible to stay angry with him for long. Perhaps she spoiled him more than she should, but she had every reason to. There had been a time when she thought having a child to spoil was only a distant dream. Now that it was a reality- soon to be three times over- she found herself to be the more indulgent parent. Their children were only little for so long and she was wont to deny them the childhood that had been denied to her.

"Good afternoon, Lord Tyrion," Aemon said dutifully before turning his attention back to his mother. Did you see it?"

"See what?"

"The white raven!"

"White raven…"

"It arrived from the Citadel today," Jon confirmed, decidedly less excited than his son.

""Then Autumn is here," Dany sighed.

"Which can only mean," Tyrion began.

"Yes, Winter is coming."

"You Starks are always right eventually."

"Aemon, will you bring your little sister here? And when you get back we three will play something together." Dany waited for her son to leave before she turned to regard her husband and her hand. "We knew Summer couldn't last forever, yes?"

"Of course," Tyrion replied. "It lasted nearly five years. There's not telling how long Autumn will last either."

"I don't want people to panic."

"They won't," Jon assured her.

"You don't know that. The last time we saw Winter is still fresh in everyone's mind, especially mine. Parents lost their children to that Winter and to the dead."

"That won't happen this time. The White Walkers are gone."

"There's more to worry about in Winter than White Walkers now. Last Winter was short compared to some Westeros have seen. I was born during a Winter. Some people suffer from famine in times of Winter, Snow."

Dany knew that Tyrion was right. When the Night King was defeated, Winter did not end in the blink of an eye. It ebbed away slowly like a receding wave from a shoreline. Days grew longer and warmer, nights were shorter. Gradually, the ground began to thaw, first in the south and then lastly in the North. Dorne lost many of its olive and lemon orchards. They were only now beginning to reap a good harvest and Dany hoped the winter would be brief and mild in the southron most areas of Westeros.

"But we've been preparing for this, correct?" Dany asked.

"Of course, Your grace. But War takes a hard toll on farming. Still, provisions have been set aside. We also might get lucky and have a long Autumn with bountiful harvests."

"Better not to rely on that, just to be safe. We can trade with Meereen if need be as well."

"Very wise."

"When you come next week bring me a report on the grainaries. I want to look over the numbers."

"Will that be all, Your grace?"

"See if you can have the goldcloaks gather some public opinion from around King's Landing. If anything else comes up I'll send word."

Tyrion finished his cup, collected his documents into his leather satchel and bowed, leaving Dany hugging herself and casting a sideways glance at her husband.

"Don't look at me like that, Jon."

"Like what?"

"Like you think I'm working too hard."

"What did Sam say?" Jon asked.

"He didn't forbid me from working."

"Not what I asked. What did he say?"

"I'll need to know how much grain we have stored up around Westeros. Shall we send your sisters ravens as well? One to Winterfell and one to Storm's End?"

"Daenerys," Jon said firmly, turning her by the shoulder to face him. "I'm asking you what Sam said."

"That it could be any day now."

"Right. Any day now. Could be today. Could be tomorrow."

"It's not," Dany scroffed with a wave of her hand. "I'd know if the baby was coming today."

"Why is it too much to ask that you take it easy?"

"It's not too much to ask but-"

"Everything before the word but is horseshit."

"Do you kiss your queen with that mouth?"

"Aye," Jon smiled. "And I haven't heard her complain much about it."

"I promise you that I will lie down to rest when Rhaenys and Aemon do."

"And?"

"And what?"

"You won't work too much until after the babe is here."

"Fine. Maybe you'll have to meet with Tyrion next week if I've had the baby before he gets here."

"That's unkind."

"You like Tyrion," Dany pointed out.

"Yes but-"

"And you've been on diplomatic missions for me."

"I know, but…"

"But?" Dany waited expectantly. "I thought you just said everything before the word but is horseshit."

"You've more patience for him than I do sometimes. I'd rather just hear the condensed versions of his reports from you. He can be...long winded at times. Especially when he's been in the wine."

"I'm not commanding you to do this as your queen. I'm asking you to do this as your wife."

"You know I'll do it either way," Jon replied, brushing his knuckles over her belly. "But with a little bit of luck, the little one will arrive after Tyrion's next visit."

XXXXX

"How is it that luck always seems to be on your side, Jon Snow?" an exhausted Dany asked as she leaned against him, their newborn son quietly nursing in her arms. He had come into the world with less fuss and less difficulty than his older brother. His grey eyes were large and wondering from the first moment Dany gazed and him and he cried so little that at first she had been afraid something was wrong, though now it seemed to just be his nature.

"Must have some gods on my side."

"He came less than twelve hours after my meeting with Tyrion."

"Aye," Jon nodded, his finger gliding over the baby's soft dark hair.

Whereas his siblings were a mix of both parents, the newest Targaryen prince already looked like a Stark. Perhaps one day, when he was older, he would be fostered at Winterfell, but Jon did not dare bring that up now. He had made the mistake of mentioning it to Dany once before when Aemon was still just a babe and she had refused to discuss the matter, had refused to even entertain the thought of being apart from her children for months or even years at a time. He knew it was not a tradition she had been familiar with and knew that growing up away from all family except her half-mad brother had made Dany especially hesitant to think about sending their children away.

"He needs a name," Dany said, adjusting her shift when the child had finished nursing. "But I think only one will suit him."

"Oh?"

"He looks like you. He came just after we found out Autumn was here and that Winter is not far behind. We didn't have a name chosen ahead of time. It was chosen for us. You know what to name our son, Jon."

"Welcome to the world, Eddard. We'll call you Ned for short. A short name in honor of a great man."