[for Jon]

[onceaqueen]

(dated his first morning back at home)

Rickon was so glad to see his father home again that he refused to sleep anywhere but in his parents' bed, right between them. While Susan slept better having Jon home again (it seemed so long--as everyone knows when you're used to sleeping with someone you love, it's very hard to fall asleep when you're

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[onceaqueen]

Susan had been bracing herself for a squalling tantrum, and the fact that there hadn't been one (yet) made her both relieved and anxious. She couldn't help but smile at Rickon's curiosity, though. "The baby's growing in Mother's tummy right now," she said, "the way you did before you were born, and the way Reynald did in Auntie Jeyne's tummy before he was born." Rickon probably didn't remember that, but he might, as well as he might remember Lyanna with Ygraine, and she wasn't about to mention his grandmother just now for fear of provoking the dreaded tantrum. He missed her, and part of her was glad Jon had been spared his son's inconsolable wailing over Lyanna. "And then this spring, when the baby's grown enough, he or she will be born and be part of our family."

Rickon picked up his toast again and resumed gnawing on it without comment. Susan glanced at Jon, shrugging slighly helplessly, and looked back at their son. "Did you understand what I said, Rickon?" she asked. Perhaps she'd just confused him.

"Down," said Rickon, and climbed down from his chair. (He did not like anyone to pick him up or put him down from the table--he was a Big Boy.) He toddled over to Susan and put his soggy piece of toast on her stomach. It wouldn't stay, given that she didn't exactly have a stomach as yet, and so he let it fall into her lap. "Play now," he said, and toddled off, making hooting wolf-like sounds with Shadow trailing along behind.

Susan gingerly picked up the piece of toast. "Er..."

[handandahalf]

Jon watched the entire display with his lips pressed together, first anxiously in anticipation of Rickon's tantrum, then in amusement as he watched his son process what they were telling him. As he walked off with Shadow in tow, Jon let out his breath in a whoosh and turned to Susan with a cautious grin.

"Well," he said slowly, "that went better than expected." He watched Rickon sit down with some of his toys and felt his mouth curve up in a fond smile. "What will they be like together? It'll be so strange... so wonderful," he murmured, as much to himself as to Susan. He glanced over at her, then leaned over to squeeze her hand.