A storm was raging. Rain was pouring. Wind was blowing. Thunder was roaring. Lightning was flashing.

The Stormlands were certainly living up their name that night. And yet the storm was not what would be remembered. Not by Lord Gendry Baratheon and Lady Meera Reed.

Because this was the night when they would see each other again. This was the night when an important question was asked. This was the night when forever started.

***

Gendry sat in the forge of his castle. Unable to sleep in his too big bed. Lost in his own thoughts. Thoughts of the troubles brewing in the kingdom. Thoughts of the wars and struggles that were to come. Because they would come, he was certain of it. The king would make sure of it. But the familiar surroundings of the forge calmed him.

And he thought of Meera. He missed her. He longed for her. There was an empty void inside of him where she should be.

He wanted to see her again, but he also dreaded it. Because next time would be the last. Then he would have to let her go. Forever.

And he didn't want to. He never wanted to let go. He wanted to be with her. Forever.

***

Meera rode on the King's Road leading to Storm's End. His castle. The tower of the castle could be seen in the distance.

She had been traveling since the day before, all through the night and now into the next day. She was exhausted. She was hungry. She was soaked by the rain. But none of that mattered because she was almost there. With him.

She would see him again. She would hold him. She would kiss him. She would be with him. Forever.

***

The sound outside of the drawbridge being lowered was almost drenched by the pouring rain, but Gendry still heard it. And he went outside to see what was going on.

And there she suddenly stood. Meera.

Here clothes drenched from the rain. Her hair plastered to her face. Her lips blue from the cold. The most beautiful sight he had ever seen.

"Gendry!" she called out.

"Meera!" he responded.

Suddenly she was in his arms. Where she belonged. Where she fit so perfectly. Where she should always be.

***

Meera buried her face in Gendry's chest. His arms were tight around her and he leaned down to kiss her wet hair.

Around them, the rain was still pouring. The thunder was roaring. The lightning was flashing. But it didn't matter. Only they mattered.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"I need your help," she said.

"Of course, I will help you," he said. "You know I will."

She looked up at his beautiful blue eyes. Those eyes that made her feel like she mattered. It felt so familiar, so safe, so right. She knew when looking at him that what she had decided to do was right. She would step into the storm because she knew it would embrace her, take care of her, love her.

"Let's get you out of the rain," he said.

He took her hand and led her into the forge. He looked so comfortable in there. She had only known him as Lord Gendry Baratheon but she saw now the man he used to be. When he was Gendry the bastard blacksmith. She wanted to know that man. She wanted to know his struggles. She wanted to know where he came from.

"Sit here," he said and pointed at one of the workbenches.

She climbed up and he situated himself right in front of her. So close. Their faces were at the same level when she sat there.

He took off his jacket and put it over her shoulders. Then he patted her arms and shoulders lightly. Trying to warm her.

"You need a hot bath and some dry clothes," he said. "I'll have the maids arrange that for you and then we can talk."

She shook her head.

"I need to talk to you now," she said. "I can't wait."

"But you're so wet and cold," he protested while still trying to warm her.

"I'm used to wet and cold, I'm from the swamp," she said with a smile.

"Well, I was quite wet and cold after visiting your home. So I do believe you," he said and smiled back at her. "What do you need to tell me, Meera?"

He put his hands around hers and rubbed and breathed on them to warm them up. His big hands enveloped hers. It felt nice, it felt warm, it felt safe.

"The Frey's have attacked our lands," she said. "They have us under siege. My father will be able to hold it for a while but he can't hold them away forever. They will take our lands eventually."

"I'll march there," he said without hesitation. "I'll take them back for you."

She knew he would say that, but she couldn't let him. Not without ensuring his safety. So she shook her head.

"I can't let you do that," she said. "I went to the king, to ask for his help. Because my father still believes he's loyal to us. But the king won't help us. And he will declare anyone who does a traitor to the crown. He threatened you. He said he will behead you. He knew I would go to you. So he must know..."

"Know about what?"

"That I'm..."

She looked down, suddenly shy. It felt weird to utter the words. But as she looked at her hands, still enveloped by his, she knew what she felt was real. She knew he must feel it too. And she knew she could tell him.

So she looked up again. She looked into those beautiful blue eyes. The eyes she couldn't lie to. And she told him.

"I'm in love with you, Gendry," she said.

He put his hands up to her face and carefully brushed some wet strands of hair away from her cheeks.

"I'm in love with you too, Meera," he said. "I'm so darn in love with you that I don't know what to do with myself."

Then he kissed her. His lips were so warm against her cold lips. His tongue gently grazing hers. She felt a tingling spreading through her entire body, warming her, embracing her.

He put his hands on the jacket that was still over her shoulders and pulled her closer. Her legs were on each side of his hips and their bodies rubbed up against each other. He was so close and it felt so right. She could feel that he wanted her and she wanted him so badly too. She wanted him to take her right there on that bench.

But she couldn't give in just yet. She had to talk to him first. She had to ask him something. So she reluctantly parted her lips from his.

"That's why I can't let you help me," she said. "I can't let him hurt you."

"There must be something I can do," he replied. "I want to help you."

"There is one way... "

She looked down again. What she was about to say didn't feel proper. It wasn't something a woman should ask a man. But she needed to ask him anyway.

"If you were my family he couldn't stop you. The right to defend your family is still respected. And if it's not the king would have to behead his cousin and his uncle as well."

"You mean..."

She nodded and blushed slightly. His hands found hers and enveloped them again.

"You know I want that more than anything, but... I can't let you do that, Meera. You would have to give up your name, your title, your claim to your lands."

"I would give them up to save them."

He seemed conflicted. He looked down towards her hands...

"You know I would want nothing rather," he said. "But not like this..."

"Please, Gendry. I wouldn't do it for anyone else," she said. "Only you. Because I know you, I trust you, I want to be with you."

She put her forehead against his. Trying to make him look at her. Trying to make him give in.

"I want to be with you too, Meera. Please don't think otherwise. But I want you to be happy."

"I would be happy because I would be with you. And it's the only way. This way we can have it all. We can have each other. We can save my lands. We can be free from the king."

"But you wouldn't have your lands."

"Our children would. They will rule those lands under your name. We'll save my lands for them."

He nodded slightly. And he looked up, his blue eyes meeting hers. He couldn't refuse any longer. The mention of children seemed to have pushed him over the edge.

"You know I would do it anyway if you asked," he said. "You wouldn't need to give anything up. It would be worth getting beheaded for."

"I know. But I wouldn't ask, " she replied. "Because I can't have anything happen to you. I can't lose you. That would be worse than losing my lands."

They lingered in that moment for a second. The moment when they knew they could have each other. Looking into each other's eyes knowing that forever was theirs.

Then he said the words. The words that once had been spoken to him. The promise that had not been kept. But he would keep this promise.

"I can be your family," he said.

And he kissed her again. Softy and carefully. His lips barely touching hers at first. The first kiss of the rest of their lives together.

"And I'll be yours," she said.

Gendry nodded and smiled. Looking happier than she ever had seen him. Then he looked around the room briefly, like was trying to figure something out.

"Let me do this properly though," he said.

He helped Meera down from the workbench and lead her to a spot in the middle of the forge. Where the moonlight was shining in on them through the window. His beautiful blue eyes sparkled from the moonlight. He took her hand as they stood there.

And he went down on one knee in front of her. On the floor of the forge. Just like he had done once before.

"Lady Meera Reed," he said. "I'm just a poor bastard boy from King's Landing. Who never thought I could have anything. That I would be anyone. I was wrong. But still... I didn't think I could have love. I didn't think I deserved it. And then I met you..."

His voice was starting to tremble. Taken by the moment. Wiping tears from his eyes.

"Sorry... Don't know what I was going to say anymore," he said, trying to regain his composure.

"You don't have to say anything," she said and got down on her knees next to him. "I know."

"Lord Gendry Baratheon," she said. "I never believed in love. I didn't believe it was something I could have. But then I met you. And I felt it. I felt love. I felt like nothing else mattered in this world but you and me. And I want to feel that way forever."

He nodded and squeezed her hand.

"I think I remember what I was about to say now," he said with a smile. "When I met you, Meera, I was heartbroken, I was on a path I had no idea if I could walk. But then suddenly I felt like anything was possible. That I could do anything. Because of you. And I want to feel that way forever."

He cleared his throat and paused for a moment before continuing. Before asking the question. Savoring that moment forever.

"Meera," he said. "Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

She smiled upon hearing those words. It was the most beautiful words she had ever heard.

"I will," she said. "I will be your wife, Gendry."

She leaned in and kissed him. They kissed again and again. So many kisses. They would have their whole lives to kiss but they still couldn't get enough. There would never be enough kisses.

All the kissing made him lose his balance and they both tumbled down on the floor. He landed on his back and she sat on top of him, straddling him.

She leaned in and kissed him again. And they kept kissing. Her clothes and hair were still wet but she had forgotten about it. She could feel him between her legs, getting harder. It excited and intrigued her. They probably shouldn't do what they were doing but she didn't care, she wanted him. She wanted him now. His hands started to explore her body, touching her breasts through the wet jacket. She heard herself moan lightly from his touch. She wanted to get her clothes off. She wanted to take his clothes off. She wanted to be as close to him as she could. He was hers and she was his, forever. And nothing else mattered.

Until they heard someone clearing their throat behind them. They both looked up. A stern tall woman was standing in the doorway.

"I don't believe I've met our guest, Lord Baratheon," Marya said.

"Marya, this is Lady Meera Reed," Gendry replied, still laying on the floor with Meera on top of him. "She's about to be my wife."

"You weren't betrothed to anyone when I saw you earlier this evening..."

"Lady Reed just got here..."

"You've just met her and you've already asked her to marry you? And you have now decided to consummate your marriage right here on the floor?"

"We weren't going to... and I met Meera before, in her homelands and in the capital. She came here to ask me to help her."

"I think you were going to... and regardless of when you met her, you're not married yet. So I would advise you to get up from the floor. You don't want to damage the lady's reputation. I'll take Lady Reed with me and make sure she gets a warm bath and some dry clothes. It looks like she needs it."

"Go with her," Gendry said to Meera. "Marya might sound harsh but she will take good care of you. She's Dev's mother. You need to warm up. I'll see you in the morning. Because I suspect she will guard your room and not let me in."

"You are correct in that, Lord Baratheon," Marya said because of course, Marya could hear everything. "I've raised too many boys to allow them into a room with a girl unsupervised. And you two certainly seem like you would need supervision. I thought my son was the only one I had to keep away from ladies in this castle..."

Meera nodded and leaned in to give Gendry one more quick kiss. She wanted to stay there on the floor with him, but she realized she couldn't. They would have to wait just a little bit longer to do all the things they wanted to do to each other.

And a hot bath and dry clothes did sound quite appealing too.

"I bring you with me to talk to my advisors tomorrow morning," he said. "We'll decide when the wedding can be arranged and how soon we can march to your home and defend it."

Meera nodded. Then she got up and went towards Marya.

"Come here, Lady Reed," Marya said. "I'll make sure you get warmed up. I think Lord Baratheon might just need to stay there on the floor for a while longer before he can get up."

Marya put her hand on Meera's shoulder and led her out of the forge.

***

Gendry once again laid on the floor of a forge right after proposing to a girl.

That time, not that many months ago, he had laid on the cold floor of the forge in Winterfell. He had been heartbroken, disillusioned, and devasted. He had thought he would never have love again.

This time he laid on the wet floor of the forge of his own castle. He was overwhelmed by everything that had happened so quickly. He was so aroused he could barely think straight. And he was in love, completely utterly in love.

He could have love. He knew that now. He could love her. Forever.

She would be his family, and he would be hers.

Author's Note: That's right! We're getting a forking wedding! Gendry and Meera are getting married, right in this very story!

In the next chapter, Gendry will tell his advisors and there will be wedding preparations (and also lots of instances of Marya trying to prevent Gendry and Meera from consummating their marriage too early...)