Author's Note: As this story finally comes to a close, I just want to thank everyone for sticking with it for so long. Thank you also to everyone who took the time to leave a review. Your encouragement and insights have meant the world to me! I am hoping to post at least one more completed GoT fic before the series returns. I'm not certain what it will be yet, but I promise it will include more Sansa/Tyrion romance. :)

Epilogue

Soon after winter had passed and spring was in full bloom, Sansa and Tyrion welcomed their firstborn son into the world. It had been a difficult birth, but Sansa had survived it, and little Eddard Lannister had come into the world in perfect health. Although not a dwarf like his father, he did have Tyrion's golden hair. From Sansa, he had inherited his sparkling blue eyes, and she had never seen anything more beautiful in all her life.

Hours after Eddard's birth, Sansa slept soundly in the bed she now shared with Tyrion, overcome by exhaustion. But just before the break of dawn, she awoke, turning to find herself alone.

Sansa sat up, momentarily alarmed to find herself without Tyrion by her side. She scanned the darkened room, searching for any sign of her husband. She found him sitting in the corner by Eddard's cradle, rocking it gently and singing a soft lullaby whose words she didn't know.

Sansa exhaled a relieved sigh and leaned back against the headboard, her eyes transfixed on her husband. They had been married for nearly a year now, and she thanked the gods every day for him. He had saved her from herself, from the pain and misery of her past. Had Tyrion not come back into her life, she might have let herself drown in her own bitterness. He had shown her that life could be happy again and that love still existed, even in the cruelest of worlds. Even after all this time, she still loved him desperately. As she watched Tyrion lull their son to sleep, she realized that she loved him even more today than she had the day before.

When Tyrion had finished singing, Sansa finally felt that it was safe to speak. "That's a beautiful song."

Tyrion looked up at her as if surprised to see her awake. "It's an old song from my childhood in Lannisport. You've never heard it?"

"No, it's not something we sing here in the North."

Tyrion moved away from the cradle. "How are you feeling, Sansa, my love?"

Sansa loved when he called her that. He only did it in private, and the gesture always seemed so very intimate. "Better than a few hours ago. How is he?"

"Resting comfortably." Tyrion climbed onto the bed, sitting on the edge so that he could face her.

"He's so perfect, isn't he?"

"And you were worried that he'd turn out to be a dwarf."

Sansa slapped Tyrion playfully on the arm. "You were the one who was worried, not me. I would have loved him either way."

"Well, you never know. The next one might be a misshapen little monkey, just like his father. You might still have your chance."

Sansa ignored Tyrion's self-deprecation. Even after a year of marriage, she had been unable to break him of the habit, and so, she had stopped trying. "Do you think there will be another one?"

Tyrion smirked. "If I have anything to do with it, there will be many, many more."

Sansa couldn't help but smile. "You know, my mother and father had five children. We should have at least that many."

"But of course. We'll fill the yard with little wolves and lions, and our children shall help repopulate the North."

Sansa giggled. She couldn't stop herself. "I like that idea very much."

"So do I." Tyrion took her hand in both of his and brought it to his lips, kissing it gently. Then, he lowered his hands to his lap, still holding hers, his thumb idly tracing circles across her bare skin. "It is late, and you have been through a great deal today. You should get your rest."

"I've had my rest."

"Then what do you want to do?"

"I want to hold our child."

"He has just fallen back to sleep. I don't think we should wake him. Would you prefer if I held you instead?"

Sansa knew she could not have her way just then. It would not be fair to either Eddard or Tyrion if she woke the sleeping babe just to appease her own desires. So, she graciously accepted Tyrion's offer.

He climbed beneath the covers, and Sansa lay down again. As soon as Tyrion was settled, she cuddled up next to him, resting her head against his chest.

"How is this?" he asked. "Will it suffice for now?"

"Yes. Thank you," she said, snuggling up even closer.

Tyrion relaxed against the mattress and began to stroke her hair. "I've sent ravens to King's Landing and to Casterly Rock. There is a new heir to Winterfell, and the world needs to know it."

"You want to take him there, don't you?"

"To Casterly Rock?"

"Yes."

"Of course, but it need not be anytime soon. I know how you feel about leaving Winterfell—"

"I'd like to bring him to Lannisport, to show him to your people."

Tyrion's hand stilled against the back of her head. "Do you mean that?"

"I do. I will never allow him to go to King's Landing, of course. Not even during peacetime. Not even with Jon and Arya happily ensconced in the Red Keep. But I will go with you both to Casterly Rock and introduce your people to their new heir."

"Oh, Sansa."

Tyrion pulled away, and Sansa moved back to look up at him. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong," he said, his eyes filled with the same love and admiration she'd seen earlier that day right after she'd given birth to their son. "I just never thought to hear you say those words."

"I know how much it means to you, and I have no desire to be selfish. You've spent far too long taking care of me, giving me what I need. Now, I want to give you what you need. As soon as Eddard and I are strong enough to travel, we will go home with you to Casterly Rock, for a spell."

Tyrion searched her eyes as if overcome by just how very much he loved her. Without a word, he closed the distance between them and kissed her softly, deeply. When he finally broke away, he said, "Thank you, Sansa. Today, you have made me happier than I have ever imagined possible, and I will always love you for it."

"You have done the same for me, Tyrion Lannister. You gave me a child, and you gave me my life back. Thank you." She leaned forward and kissed him just as he had kissed her.

It was torture for Sansa to have to pull away, but she knew she was in no condition to take things any further. And so, she ended the kiss with a regretful sigh.

"Don't worry," Tyrion said. "We won't have to abstain forever."

"I know that," she replied, her fingers idly playing with the ties on his shift. "It just seems like forever."

Tyrion laughed. "It's only been a moonturn so far. Up until a year ago, you had waited your entire life to enjoy a man's company in your bed. Surely, you can wait a little longer."

"I don't know. I think you've corrupted me, Lord Tyrion."

Tyrion grinned wickedly. "Oh, have I, Lady Sansa?"

"I believe you have." And then, despite the trouble she knew it would cause, she kissed him again, this time sweeping her tongue against his, causing him to groan deep in his throat.

It was Tyrion who pulled away this time. "That's not fair."

Sansa laughed. "I told you that you had corrupted me."

Tyrion pulled her to him, coaxing her to lie by his side again, her head against his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly. "That's enough of that for one night," he scolded. "You need some sleep."

Sansa slid her hand up Tyrion's thigh and around his hardening manhood.

"Oh, fuck," he swore.

Sansa giggled again, but she relented. She trailed her hand up his stomach and rested it flat against his chest. "Very well, if you'd rather I didn't—"

"There's a sleeping babe on the other side of the room. If you start doing that now, he won't be asleep for long. There's no way in the Seven Hells I'd be able to keep quiet."

"All right, then," Sansa said, incapable of keeping the disappointment from her voice. She placed a chaste kiss against Tyrion's chest and then settled down to sleep. "Good night, Tyrion."

"Good night, Sansa."

He tightened his grip on her, and Sansa instantly felt warm and safe. She knew that Tyrion would always love her, just as she would always love him. She would go with him to Casterly Rock. She would be the wife he had always dreamed of. She would do all she could to make him happy because he deserved it more than anyone she had ever known.

Sansa was grateful to the gods for having brought Tyrion Lannister into her life. Although, when she had first asked him to be her husband, it had only been to fulfill a duty, now he meant everything to her. She could not have chosen a better husband. Not if she had searched all the known world.

Sansa slowly drifted off to sleep, dreaming about a future filled with happy children and her loving husband by her side. She had nothing but pleasant dreams.