21 Obsolete

                                    

                                          
"Is father trying to convince you to marry still?" Rieka questioned over breaking their fast. Cregan grumbled into his porridge. Viserys was getting used to the food of the north, it was not what the food in the south was but it was part of Rieka's childhood, getting the full northern experience.
"You are a fine man, Cregan." Viserys remarked. 
"Thank you, I agree but I think this year due to extreme circumstances-"
"Father wanting to marry you off being those extreme circumstances." Arya agreed. 
"Yes. I am going to be a bigger bitch this year." Cregan decided. 
"You are too honorable to be that." Aemond corrected. 
"Which is why i'm such a damn catch, take it from me Aemond, listen to your uncle Cregan when he tells you-" Cregan instructed leaning in, RIeka was already rolling her eyes but Aemond leaning in curious to hear what he had to say. "-if marriage is not for love like Rieka and Viserys," he clarified. "Then its a prison." 
"Is that true?" Aemond questioned. 
Yes. Viserys wanted to say, yes it was because although he loved his children, all of them. It was a sort of prison with Alicent, even though he chose her, it was out of duty not love. 
"You will marry for love so you dont have to worry,' Rieka assured. 
"What about me? I hate being firstborn." Aegon grumbled. 
"I will gladly take aegon's duties." Aemond added quickly. 
"You dont want the pressure of firstborn." Aegon corrected. 
"Like you do anything!" Aemond shouted back as Helaena headed to the window, smiling at the gentle snowflakes falling around them. "I train and study and you just flirt with Arya. She is technically our aunt!" 
"And I'm technically older than her and mum its mum like that so its fine and even if mum was blood it wouldnt matter because Targaryen incest is a thing Aemond!" Aegon shouted. 
"Alright," Rieka tapped her fingers on the table. "Boys, lets just... calm down. Cregan see what you started?"
"I'm just trying to help the youth." Cregan drawled. 
"Stop trying to help." Rieka countered. "Nymeria, lets go play with those puppies, Helaena darling you want to join us?"
"Yes." Helaena agreed running after her. 
"Boys." Arya scoffed heading off. 
"What did she mean by that?" Aegon questioned looking to Viserys. Viserys chuckled bringing his glass to his lips taking a long sip. "What did she mean father?"
"Probably that you are acting like children." Viserys offered. 
"But... in a I'm still a babe way right?" Aegon questioned. 
"A baby." Aemond countered getting up. 
"Sit! Sit! SIT!" Nymeria commanded before shoving the pups little butt to the ground. "Good sit, good girl! Oh Daddy!" She ran off seeing Rickard and the pup chased after her. "Can I keep her? Daddy please?"
"I have loved having you so close honey," Rickard remarked. "I was hoping maybe you would want to stay..." Nymeria stared back at him confused. "In winterfell.... after your sister leaves. If you wanted to." 
"Oh Cregan, father is lonely." Rieka whispered as Viserys hand traced along her thigh. "Nymeria told me he asked her to stay." 
"What did she say?" Cregan countered. 
"That she would think about it." Rieka answered. "I love her to pieces but father is all alone up here." 
"In other words I should stay?" Cregan countered. 
"You are no replacement for Nya." Rieka assured. 
"I think your father wants what every father wants, to know they are not obsolete." Viserys cut in. "He wants to know that even though you are married, a baby on the way-" his face lit up as he said it. "and the children are being taken care of that they still need him."
"Or, OR!" Cregan declared. "We remind him why he doesnt like having children around because they are loud and messy." Cregan countered. 
"Maybe we try viserys idea first and if that doesnt help then we have Arya go full tilt." Rieka suggested.
"Alright" Cregan grumbled. 
"You know its hard," Rickard admitted to Viserys. "Seeing them so alright without me." 
"They speak of you all the time, I know Rieka misses you," Viserys added. "She speaks to the children about you, tells stories from home, from winterfell to the kids at night." He went on. "You are their father, one father to another, I felt very much obsolete for the longest time." Viserys admitted. "I was coasting through life and it wasnt until I met Rieka that my life was given purpose... now You dont have to listen to me but I know personally how much your little girls need a mother figure like rieka with them daily. But they also need their father knowing he is looking out for them and always here for them if they need him."
"I knew I couldnt take Nymeria," Rickard admitted. "It's just been so nice having all the kids back again. It's going to be so quiet when you all leave." 
"Have you thought of meeting a new woman?" viserys pondered. 
"No," Rickard admitted. 
"A new hobby then?" Viserys questioned. 
"I..." RIckard chuckled. "I'm a man of habit I'm afraid."
"As was I until your stunning daughter flipped the script and now I feel like I'm free."