Ned looked up at the familiar tower, dread growing at the pit of his stomach.

There had been too much loss on Dornish soil. Perhaps they should all just stay away from the most southern part of Westeros.

"She should be up there, just up those steps," Ned spoke, frowning as the memory of finding his sister crept up on him.

No. This time would be different, Livia would be alive. 

Just as Robert was.

Ned looked to his friend who was a bit pale despite already making a full recovery. 

The poison had only stayed in his system for a short while. Luckily, with the help of the maesters in Sunspear, the antidote was quickly applied and Robert was up and running once again.

The moment he was cured, he rounded up the Kingsguard and Ned to go straight to the Tower of Joy.

Having been there before, Ned led the way, all of them on horseback.

The whole time, Robert had been fussing with himself. Muttering apologies about coming so late or just thinking. Maybe about how much time he had lost.

Three months. Three full months. Livia would have already started showing.

Finally he was there but still, Robert hesitated, turning to Ned. "If I'm being honest with you, I'm terrified."

Ned's brows scrunched in confusion. "Of what?"

"I'm scared for the worst. I-It's been three months and I don't know what to do." Robert answered, standing at the bottom of the staircase.

Ned clasped his shoulder firmly. "Go to her."

"But what if she doesn't feel the same way? What if she realized she never really loved me?" Robert asked, voicing out the thoughts he had been worrying about ever since they left Sunspear.

"Time does nothing but strengthen the hearts of those who truly love. She loves you and you love her. Nothing and no one can take that from you." Ned replied, smiling.

Ned knew from the beginning that Robert never truly loved Lyanna. He never knew who she was, not really. Yet his sister had already gone from this world, it doesn't mean that Robert's heart should go with her.

Lyanna had made her choice, she made her bed and now, she had lied in it. Ned wouldn't deny that Lyanna made mistakes but they were her choices, and she was free to make them.

Robert shouldn't have to suffer for her choices. He deserved to be happy and so did Livia. The only way they could be happy is when they were together.

Livia brought Robert back to life. Ned had seen firsthand what Robert lost when he fought in the countless battles but only now did he see how much he had healed.

Instead of giving up easily, he fought for Livia. Quite literally. He had life again, he had hope.

He had ceased in using alcohol as an escape, he had been facing the world with a sound mind and a sound heart. He is a good king, especially with Livia at his side.

The realm was ever better with Robert Baratheon ruling as king and Livia Lannister as his queen.

Robert turned, facing his friend. "Thank you, Ned. I can't thank you enough for being here."

Ned stifled a sniffle before smiling. "Now go. It's not every day we can find a girl who can tolerate you."

"You're not wrong."

°•°•°•°•°•°

At the edge of sleep, Livia could hear the vague sounds of hoofbeats. 

It was most probably the servants who had come to deliver her midday meal. A meal of bread and water, even when she had asked for sour cherries.

She had even asked nicely but still, none of them spoke to her or listened to her. Oberyn had not even visited ever since dropping her off. She did not know if that was counted as a blessing or as a curse.

She had thought of various ways of escaping but none of it were possible, all of them resulting to her wandering around the dessert with no horse, no food and no water.

The best thing she could do was to regain her strength, to sleep. The servants couldn't be bothered with her anyway. 

However, she struggled to slip into a dreamless slumber, especially with the loud voices outside followed by the heavy footfalls. 

The servants must be carrying something awfully heavy for the footsteps to be so noisy. Maybe they were carrying cherries.

The door slammed open with a loud creak but Livia kept her eyes shut. 

She couldn't hear the usual metal tray carrying her meal nor a simple bowl of cherries.

What a disappointment.

The footsteps grew closer and she relaxed her breaths to make it seem as if she was truly sleeping.

That was when she felt a pair of lips caressing her own.

Livia released a gasp, pushing away the person who had dared kiss her while she was asleep.

Fully prepared to unleash hell on whoever thought it was alright to do that, she opened her eyes angrily before her vision settled on familiar blue eyes.

"Hello Liv." Robert grinned, his smile soft but his eyes playful.

"Robert?" Livia asked, still not believing that he was there, he was finally there. 

Her hand shook as she cradled his cheek in her hand before he pressed himself closer to her palm. "It's me. I'm sorry I took so long."

With no hesitations, she leapt into his arms, tears blurring her sight. "Nevermind that, you're here. You're actually here!"

Robert held her close. "I would've traversed the whole desert if that is what it took to get to you."

"I-I thought you were in Winterfell, how did you get here, in Dorne, I-" Livia asked, confused but he stopped her.

He nodded, pulling back to look at her. "Aye, I was In Winterfell, I was in front of Lyanna's grave, looking at her statue and you know what?"

"What?"

"I couldn't even remember what she looked like. The only thing I could see when I closed my eyes were golden hair and green eyes. That's when I discovered something about you and Lyanna."

"You did?" Dismayed, she looked down, not meeting his eyes. She had wanted him to make his peace after all. Maybe he realized he could never forget Lyanna. "I want you to know that I won't ever ask you to choose, I know you loved her."

"There was never another choice." Robert placed a finger under her chin. "Because I never loved her. It's you, Liv. I-It was always you and it will always be you. Even when I didn't know it, my heart did. My heart chose you from the beginning."

"Really? But what about everything?" Livia questioned, still doubting. What about her flaws, the secrets, everything?

"Everything, everything is better when I'm with you." He said, before pulling out a familiar necklace from his pocket. Her necklace, the gold stag and lion necklace. She uncovered her neck before he fastened it on her, pressing a soft kiss to her neck. "You're the best part of me. You're my life, my love. I love you, Livia. As a Lannister and as a Baratheon. I love every part of you."

That was it. That was everything she wanted. All her life, she'd been told that none of it was supposed to be real. That in the world, only duty mattered, only honor mattered but now, she knew they were wrong.

Love mattered. Friendship, family, love. 

People fight for power and gold but love, love is what they stay alive for. What use was life if you weren't spending it with the people who care.

 All her life, those were the words she waited to hear and now that she was hearing them, she couldn't be any more happier. 

Even if they were in Dorne, in a tower she had been a prisoner in, the love of her life just told her that he loved her. 

Everything was perfect. 

"And I love you, Robert Baratheon. So much. You make this world worth living in." Livia said, laughing despite the tears of joy leaking from her eyes. 

Robert pressed his lips to her passionately, his lips tasting of bitter herbs. She held onto him tightly as if she were lost at sea and he was the only thing keeping her from drowning.

Lost in their kisses, they murmured their 'I love yous'. Sweet, irrevocable passion. The world could have stopped spinning and it wouldn't have mattered.

Pulling away was the last thing they wanted to do but even they had to breathe some time.

He smiled softly, pressing his forehead to hers, still not willing to part from her fully.

"How's our little prince or princess?" Robert asked, one of his hands pressing to her slightly swollen belly.

"Getting bigger by the day." Livia smiled, before she let out a shocked gasp.

He turned to her with wide eyes. "What's wrong? Is it the baby? But it's still too soon!"

Letting out a laugh, she took one of his hands in her own. "No, of course not. Here, put your hand here."

When his hand was placed on the right spot, he almost jumped. He guffawed, looking down at her belly with a sort of reverence. "K-kicking?"

"He or she must have felt that you were here." She said, placing her hand on top of his.

Meeting his eyes, she saw giddiness in them, such raw joy. "Are you ready to go home?"

"Let's go." Livia answered, about to stand up on her feet when he lifted her into his arms. "What are you doing?"

"We're going to be riding horses from here to Sunspear, I don't want you to get exhausted." Robert said, adjusting his hold on her so that her dress wouldn't get in the way.

"Can we get sour cherries when we get back to Sunspear?" She asked, blinking at the dark staircase.

"Pregnancy cravings?" He asked, knowingly.

She groaned, her hands covering her eyes. "They're the worse!"

"Don't worry, love. We'll get you all the sour cherries you want." He answered, laughing.

Livia bit her lip trying to hide a smile before kissing his cheek. "If only everyone knew how sweet you are."

"Only for you, Liv. Only for you."

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