"Well, now I know why you didn't want to come with me last night." Bronn announced, as he walked into Tyrion's rooms. His eyes falling on the still blissfully slumbering lioness in the bed. Tyrion nearly falling out of his chair at the sellswords words. The little lion hissing sleepily for Bronn to be quiet, as (Y/n) groaned softly.

"Shhhhh. I don't want her waking up just yet. She needs to rest. Between Cersei, Joffrey and her run in with Baelish, it was a long day. She needs to recover..........."

"Baelish? Baelish got his hands on her? That must have been interesting. Women don't usually stay maiden's long after meeting him." Bronn replied quietly. Ignoring the little lion's glare as he made his way over to the table to pour himself a wine. The sellsword deciding that his short trip from the brothel back to the Keep, had give him quite a thirst.

Tyrion knew that Bronn was right. If a maid was unfortunate enough to meet up with Baelish, the whoremonger would be quite happy to make sure that by the end of the evening, her maidenhood would be long gone. Though Baelish being Baelish would continue to inform his well to do clients, that the girl was still pure, just so that he could get more money for her. The whoremonger continuing the deception as long as he could. But Tyrion certainly didn't like the insinuation that just because (Y/n) had been unfortunate enough to bump into the Master of Coin, that her virtue had gone the same way as so many before her.

"If you are trying to imply that a lioness would allow herself to be used by ..........." Tyrion began, with a soft growl. His words cut off, as a low murmur came from the bed. Both men turning to see (Y/n) grip onto the pillow by her side and snuggle into it.

"Mmmmmmm Tyrion." (Y/n) hummed. Bronn chuckling, as he saw a soft pink hue kiss the little man's cheeks.

"Well, she might hate you when she's awake. But it don't sound like she hates ya when she's asleep." Bronn noted, as the lioness hummed happily once again. Tyrion finding himself wishing that he could be privy to what his cousin was actually dreaming about.

"That's it! Out! I am not having (Y/n) waking up to find you here, smelling of whores and wine. That would be the last thing she needs. She isn't like the rest of us, she is not used to such things. She is an innocent." Tyrion declared quietly, as he got down from his chair and proceeded to push Bronn from the room.

"Psscht! I ain't ever met one a your family that's innocent. They are all up ta more than they will ever admit. All of ya have their own personal little needs. If ya ask me, I think ya cousin is just better at hidin hers than the rest of ya." Bronn retorted, as he found Tyrion and himself back out in the corridor. The door to the little lord's rooms closed behind them.

Tyrion once again had to admit that Bronn was right. The sellswords recent habit of being quite insightful, becoming alarmingly frequent. The Lannister's were quite well known for have certain proclivities. But unlike others, they were fortunate enough to be able to pay for their particular peccadillos to be fulfilled. But as far as the lions went, Tyrion knew that (Y/n) was much different to all the others. That for (Y/n), the wealth of the family had just meant that the cage within which she was kept, was more gilded and ornate than those of other that found themselves behind bars. For even though his uncle Kevan was a much more forgiving man than his father was. Tyrion knew that a disobedient daughter was still a disobedient daughter, and Kevan would not have wanted to lose face it front of his older brother. So, her little, well appointed home, was just a step up from a prison, within which to hide a child that could not be used to further the position, strength, or power of the family. And that all of that was because she had fallen in love when they were children. Fallen in love with a boy that had promised to love her in return. But when it had come to it, had betrayed her.

"Well, it is fortunate that no one is asking you, Bronn. And I can assure you that no one wishes to know what you think. Now, I want food, and I also want you to move so that that voice of yours doesn't wake her. And while we walk, I will also be able to let you know about your new duties." Tyrion replied. The little man smiling as he made his way down the corridor. Bronn furrowing his brows, before quickly following after the youngest Lannister to find out what these new duties could be. And if he would be getting more gold for them.

                                                        >>--------------------------------<<

(Y/n) stirred. A soft moan emanating from her, as she turned over in the comfortable bed. She had been having such a wonderful dream. The memory of which, was now bringing a heated flush to her cheeks. It had been about Tyrion. About what could have happened if the maestre hadn't interrupted the two of them that night. Of all the glory that night could have held. But it was not just that. She and her beloved cousin had found themselves playing amongst the stars. With Hagard, Enith, their offspring, and all the other great and glorious things that called the night sky their home. (Y/n) had to admit that she hadn't wanted to wake. The lioness hoping that if she kept her eyes closed, that sooner or later she may be fortunate enough to drift back into her dream. Yet she knew that wouldn't be the case. That whether she liked it or not, she would have to open her eyes and find that she was still as alone as she had ever been. And that in the waking world, she would never be able to have the man that she wanted.

Moving again, (Y/n) gripped tight to the pillow by her side unable to stop herself from smiling at the scent of Tyrion on the linen. It was true that now he was a man, he seemed to be a little more fastidious about his cleaning habits. His odour much more perfumed than it had been in their youth. But it was still Tyrion. It was still the burpy, farty, smell of the blonde haired boy that she had had loved. And in truth, knew that she would always love.

"Good morning." A familiar voice called out. (Y/n) sitting bolt upright in the bed. Her eyes instantly falling on the little man next to the door. His hands filled with a tray that was overflowing with food.

"I thought that you might like to join me. I can't imagine that you would want to have to suffer through another meal with Cersei and the atrocious Joffrey." Tyrion continued, as he moved over towards (Y/n) and placed the tray down before climbing up onto the bed.

"I brough fruit and some bread. I remember that you used to like those in the morning." Tyrion explained, as he pulled a beautifully round and succulent dark grape from the bunch and gestured for (Y/n) to open her mouth. The slightly shocked lioness doing as she was bid. Closing her mouth again, as the little man popped the juicy piece of fruit in.

"I know that you always preferred the dark grapes to the pale ones. Though I must admit I could never understand why. I always find the skin a little too bitter." Tyrion mussed, as he picked another grape and popped it into his own mouth.

"That from someone that by the sounds of it, can consume his own bodyweight in red wine on a daily basis. And that is precisely why I prefer the dark grapes. It is the initial bitter taste that brings your mouth to life so that you can better appreciate the sweetness of the fruit." (Y/n) replied, as she pulled two grapes off the stalk. Tyrion opening his mouth and waiting for one of them.

"I suppose that that is true. It is the same with a crisp, sharp apple.........."

"No, I always found that those apples were better for throwing at you, than eating." (Y/n) interrupted with a chuckle. Her mind drifting back to all the times Tyrion had had to dodge a flying half worm eaten apple, that was aimed straight at his head. The little lion finding himself laughing along with her.

"Do you remember when we finally managed to get Jaime to come and join us in our apple wars. How we beat him?"

"Of course, I remember. We had been saving those awful apples for days. I know that they were more worm than fruit. By the time we had finished, Jaime was covered from head to toe I rotten fruit and laughing like a mad thing. I swear that it was one of the funniest things I had ever seen." (Y/n) giggled in reply. The childlike glint in her eyes transporting Tyrion back to that day. To how much trouble that they had gotten into. But still knowing that it had all been worth it.

"Thank you." (Y/n) said softly, as she turned her eyes to her hands in her lap.

"Thank you for this. For coming to my rescue last night. For allowing me to take your bed. You didn't need to do any of it. Especially since I have been so cruel to you. I shouldn't have said all the things that I said. I didn't really mean any of them. It was just that I was..............."

"You have nothing to be sorry for, (Y/n). It is I that should be sorry." Tyrion interrupted. The little lion placing his hand on (Y/n) cheek. Her head slowly raising so that she could look into his eyes.

"You don't have to be sorry for living your life, Tyrion. For loving who your heart loves. It is only right. Only to be expected. Only what............" (Y/n) began. Any further words unable to leave her mouth, as Tyrion gently kissed her lips.