Hello all! My goodness, welcome to the final chapter! How did this happen? I feel as if I only started this yesterday.

I would like to thank every one of you sincerely, from the bottom of my heart, for reading. I have adored having you along, and have loved reading your comments too! Honestly, my starting point for this fanfic was to try and make two rather...interesting, let's say...characters likable, and I find it absolutely brilliant how many of you have warmed to this strange pairing! It has certainly been an absolute pleasure for me, and I have loved developing this.

Once more, many thanks, and best wishes xxx

"Truly," said Brandon, the moment the squire had closed the chamber door behind them. He could not quite describe the way he felt; full and light simultaneously. "I cannot remember an afternoon I have enjoyed so much since I was a child." Delving for once into his own memories, he recalled his afternoons at Winterfell, after his lessons with Maester Luwin. Jon and Robb teaching him to shoot arrows…running around after Arya, who was always that little bit faster…climbing the high stone walls…he was certain that, until his father had died, he had been a gloriously happy child. And he had never known just how good he had it.

"It was such a wonderful idea!" Robin chirped back, scurrying over to the wine jug and pouring himself a cup. "I cannot think of a better way to have spent my nameday." He turned back to Brandon, taking a long sip. "You'll be twenty in a few months' time. Perhaps we can do this again!"

"Perhaps we can." Brandon agreed, the enthusiasm in his heart not quite reaching his face. But Robin smiled enough for both of them. A wave of relief washed over Brandon as he remembered what it felt like to believe he would never see that smile again…and now, he prayed, he would see it every day. "If it is not asking too much, can I possibly trouble you?" He gestured at the wine jug.

Robin gave a slight double-take. "I didn't think you partook?"

"Yes. Well." Brandon gave the tiniest shrug. "Times change."

Beaming now, Robin poured a second cup and brought it over to his husband with a slight giggle, before sitting down on the chair opposite him. "I knew we'd break you in the end."

"Thank you." Brandon murmured as he took the cup, raising it to his lips and sipping. He still wasn't sure he quite enjoyed the taste-the Dornish red Robin so liked was rather too sweet for him. Still, he drank companionably, relishing simply sitting with his husband once more, and seeing him happy. "That's not really surprising, though. It is in my name, after all."

"In your name?" Robin blinked at him, his large eyes rather vacant.

"Brandon the Broken?" Brandon prompted him.

"Oh!" Robin spluttered into his cup, goggling at Brandon as if he had just grown another head. "By all the gods, did you just make a joke?"

"I suppose I probably did."

But this only made Robin laugh harder. "Oh darling, you don't even realise how funny you are! Gods, I missed you…"

Brandon wasn't certain that he followed-but seeing and hearing Robin laugh, even at his expense, was worth everything to him. Especially as he had called him "darling" once again, even it had seemed to just slip out. He hadn't realise just how much he missed such a simple thing as that…Then, realising they had both forgotten, he raised his cup. "To you. On your nameday."

Likewise, Robin raised his, along with his eyebrow. "To making changes."

They both drank deeply, reflecting upon the last few weeks. Sitting in Brandon's chamber-their chamber-together once more, he could almost forget that their separation had even occurred. Of course, it was important to remember it, so that he would never make the same mistake again. But the days without Robin seemed to get further and further away by the moment, and all he could think about were all the days to come…

"I really did miss you, you know…" Robin was saying, setting down he cup. He reached over, and took Brandon's hand. "And I appreciate all you are doing. In light of that…I'm really glad to be back."

"And I am glad you are back." Brandon said, meaning it. He paused. Although it was against his nature, he forced himself to continue. "I felt I was half a man without you. And I shall not rest until I have redeemed myself in your eyes."

Robin gave him a small, sad smile. "I can tell." Then, he squeezed his hand, meeting his eyes. "But after what you did today…I am powerless to resist telling you once more how much I love you. And that I don't think I ever truly stopped." He pressed his lips together, his eyes very soft. "I'm sorry too. I know I must have put you through the seven hells."

"Don't be sorry." said Brandon instantly. "You have nothing to apologise for. You did what you needed to do." He paused. "And I love you too." he added, quickly. Never let it be said that he did not learn from his regrets.

"Thank you for saying that…" Robin took another long drink, gazing out of the window at the darkening sky outside. It was already getting rather late…true to form, he had to stifle a little yawn. "Do you know? I do not think I have slept well since that last night in the tent…"

Brandon felt a strange tugging sensation inside. He gave a simple nod of agreement, finding words rather beyond him. He caught on to what Robin was suggesting, alright-but he had to be patient. As much as he longed to have his husband back in his bed, he had to let Robin come to him.

"I never sleep well on my own…" Robin muttered into his cup-before his eyes darted back up to Brandon's. "And I certainly don't want to sleep alone on my nameday."

He was coming to him rather quicker than Brandon had dared hope for. And it was nothing short of brilliant. He felt a warm glow inside as he looked at Robin, thinking only of how much he loved him, and how heavenly it would be to hold him once more… "Of course. This chamber-and that bed-is yours as much as mine."

"Yes." Robin agreed, looking rather relieved. Then, unable to wait another moment, he set down his wine cup and hurried forward, throwing his arms around him and planting a kiss on his cheek. The moment he did so, every last piece of tension between them seemed to melt away to nothingness. "Oh Bran, how awful it has been! I cannot tell you how much I missed you…"

Brandon could do nothing but wrap his arms carefully around him, closing his eyes to enjoy the warmth of his touch, the feel of him as they embraced, his smell…it was nothing short of everything. "I love you…" he whispered into his shoulder, his voice barely audible-but Robin heard alright. It was the reason he stopped his mouth with another kiss.

"I love you too…" he breathed when it finally broke-before launching instantly into the next. And the next. And the next.

Brandon's head swam more dizzily with each new kiss, marvelling at how they flowed so seamlessly into one another, so it felt as though he no longer had need of breath, or touch, or any sensation apart from Robin. Until Robin, he had never been kissed at all. But now-he realised just how much he had missed out on. This did not feel like the chaste, loving kisses they ordinarily exchanged, even at the best of times. This was…something entirely different. Something far deeper. As Robin buried his hands in Brandon's hair, pulling even closer, kissing him ever harder…there was a sort of desperation behind them that Brandon had never known before. A desperation that was something entirely new…

"You know…" Robin whispered, cupping his face in his hands. "…it is my nameday, after all…" He paused to kiss him again, his lips almost biting. Such a new, and glorious, sensation sent all the blood rushing out of Brandon's head. "I'm sure I can think of something else I would really…really like to do…" At this-his lips moved down to Brandon's neck.

"Er…" Brandon's voice came out significantly higher than it ordinarily did. He no longer felt himself at all…all he wanted to do was to…Still, as he stroked Robin's hair, fear bubbled inside him. "Robin? I-I'm not sure if…I mean…I…" Words utterly failed him.

"Darling." Robin paused, pulling back for a moment-much to Brandon's dismay. "I refuse to believe that there is absolutely nothing I can do for you. And even so…there is never any harm in trying…"

"Well…" Brandon was finding it significantly difficult even to think. "When you put it like that…" He searched desperately for something to say. "And, I suppose, with all the time you have spent in Gulltown, you must be something of an expert."

At this-Robin pulled back once again, his mouth falling open in shock-though his eyes were shining. "What business is it of yours how much time I have spent in Gulltown?" he questioned him, pretending to be offended.

"I only meant…I have seen it." Brandon gestured vaguely with his hands.

"Seen it?" Robin narrowed his eyes.

"Yes." Brandon was all innocence.

"You pervert!" Robin cried, giving him a friendly shove-though he couldn't help giggling. "That's what you're doing all that time on the battlements!"

"What?" Brandon shook his head vehemently, feeling his cheeks growing hot "No! I didn't mean-it wasn't as if I-"

But Robin was still laughing fit to burst. "Oh Bran, you look like a beetroot!"

Brandon tried to arrange his face into something dignified, trying to ignore the fact he felt as if his skin was on fire.

"Awh, look at that face!" Robin chuckled, stroking his cheeks. "You're all grumpy now…"

"I am the Three Eyed Raven." Brandon droned, trying to explain himself. "I am a vessel of ancient magic, which-"

"-makes you all mystical and grumpy, yes." Robin beamed at him adoringly, kissing his burning forehead. "You know I don't care about all that. You're just my…strange …but utterly beautiful, sweet, and lovely Bran. And I wouldn't have you any other way."

Brandon did not have the slightest idea what to say or do next. And so, he was more than grateful when Robin started to kiss him again. And kiss him. And kiss him…

"Do you know what?" said Tyrion, setting his near-drained wine cup down on the desk and stretching. It was getting late; far too late to be dealing with state matters. He was more than ready to retire to the chamber of the hand… "If someone had told me six months ago that Robin Arryn was exactly what the crown needed, I would have told them that they were mad. Or else, extremely drunk."

Samwell Tarly gave a soft chuckle, closing the book of accounts before him with a thud. "I knew it. I always had faith in him." He could not help but look a little smug.

"You alone." said Tyrion darkly. Then, he clapped his hands. "But even the best of us must sometimes eat our words." He paused, gazing out at the black sky outside the window. "I'm not sure a few acts of charity are going to wipe Drogon from the minds of the realm, but they are certainly a good place to start. The crown's reputation has never mattered more…and, right now, I believe that it can be salvaged."

"Most things in life can be salvaged." said Sam quietly, a word-wise look in his eyes, which Tyrion found it in him to return. Half-sarcastically, and preparing himself for all the work that was still to come, he raised his cup in a toast.

"To changes. May always they ruin our plans and schemes in the best possible way."

"Yes." Sam agreed. He did not have a cup to raise, and so, rather sheepishly, he raised his ink bottle with an apologetic smile. "To change."

Much later.

"Well…" Brandon breathed, lying back on the pillows with a most extraordinary look on his face. "I didn't hate that."

Robin could not help but laugh rather uproariously, burying his face in his shoulder. Perhaps it was the wine that had set his mind in a beautiful cloudy haze…or perhaps, it was something else. "I'm going to take that as high praise." He leaned up to kiss him, snuggling close. Did Brandon even realise just how funny he was? And being so close to him, in every possible way, was heaven. "I love you so much…"

Brandon was silent for a long moment, staring up at the ceiling. There was a certain glittering in his eyes that Robin had never seen there before…and yet, when he turned to look at him, they were the most incredible sight he had ever witnessed. But the words that came out of Brandon's mouth next quite struck all other thought from his mind.

"Marry me."

Robin wondered for a moment whether he had heard him correctly. Then, as the words sank in-he frowned slightly, confused.

"Darling…we are already married. Remember?"

"No…" Brandon shook his head. He reached out, and took Robin's face carefully in his hands, looking straight into his eyes. "Not like before. In the Sept, with the entire kingdom watching, and you utterly miserable. In the light of the Seven. No. I want you to marry me properly…" He stroked Robin's cheeks, the picture of sincerity. "Because you want to…because we want to." His eyes shone brighter than ever. "I want to travel to the North, my love, and marry you in the godswood at Winterfell. Before the Weirwood tree. In the sight of the Old Gods."

Robin could scarcely believe what he was hearing. The very thought of such a thing…the sheer romance and beauty…it brought tears to his eyes.

Brandon was still gazing at him, waiting for an answer.

"Yes." Robin whispered, without the slightest moment of hesitation. "Yes. Of course I will." A laugh of pure joy bubbled out of him as he bent to kiss him again, his heart soaring. "Oh Bran…I don't think I have ever been quite so happy in my life!"

"Neither have I…" murmured Brandon. He buried his fingers in Robin's hair once more, gazing at him rather fiercely. "I thank you, my love, my Robin...For everything."

Robin was quite beyond words. All he could do was snuggle closer, thinking only of beautiful Weirwood trees and snow as far as the eye could see…

"It will be good to visit Sansa." said Brandon, wrapping his arms as tightly around him as he had strength for. "And we must travel via Greywater Watch. I owe someone an apology…"

The second part of the declaration did not strike Robin so much as the first. "Sansa?" he exclaimed, his eyes almost popping out of his head. "Oh gods. I should be ever so nervous to see her again. I was perfectly monstrous to her when she stayed in the Eyrie…"

After a short silence-a strange sort of sniff escaped Brandon. "Well. Yes. You were."

Robin turned to his husband, ready to shoot a witty and reproachful remark back at him-but something stopped him entirely in his tracks. For something completely unthinkable had happened. Something Robin had never believed he would see, as long as he lived. Something which assured him that life with Brandon would never cease to amaze him.

Bran was smiling.

THE END