286 A.C.

It started out as a mere joke.

One morning, Robert rolled over on his side, pulling Livia's form to his chest and whispering. "Marry me?"

Livia had woken up, slightly confused, not sure if she heard right. "Huh?"

"Marry me." He repeated, peppering kisses on her neck.

Laughing, she turned to face him, sleep still present in her half-open eyelids. "We're already married. Go back to sleep."

Every morning, Robert would wake up, roll over on his side, press kisses on Livia's neck and whisper the same words. "Marry me?"

After days, even weeks of asking, Livia finally relented, answering. "Yes, I will marry you. Now go back to sleep."

The very next day, Livia awoke to sunlight streaming through the windows instead of Robert's kisses.

She suspected that he was still asleep, stretching out her arm over to his side to find it surprisingly empty.

"Robert?" Livia sat up, looking around the room in confusion. She reached her arm towards their sidetable and wrapped the silk robe around her form.

She walked over to the balcony, confused to see it empty. Moving over to the solar, she spotted covered plates of food and a pot of tea prepared along with a piece of parchment.

Livia picked up the parchment and unfurled it.

°•°•°•°•°

Good morning my Liv,

You may have noticed that I am not present in our chambers at the moment. Knowing you, you probably woke sometime around noon. I am preparing some last minute things for the important event in the Kingswood at sunset. Cassian is with me as well, not to worry. For now, enjoy the breakfast of all your favorite foods and afterwards, in your closet, you will see a red gown. I thought of you immediately when I saw it. Put it on and kindly go outside. You'll like what I've got planned, I'm sure.

Loving you always, 

 Your Robert

°•°•°•°•°

Livia smiled at the note. What in seven hells was Robert up to? Nevertheless, she was excited. An event? That she didn't plan? Thank the gods!

Sitting down at the solar, she lifted the covers off the dishes and saw crabclaw pies and goat cheese with baked apples.

Livia ate quite quickly, washing it all down with tea and honey and headed to her closet.

She pulled out the red gown and placed it on. Quickly brushing her hair into curled strands and putting on simple jewelry, she went outside the chambers, only to see her brother smiling mischievously.

"Hello sister." Jaime greeted.

"Jaime? What's going on? Where's Robert and Cassian?" Livia asked, trying to get answers from her brother.

He only shook his head. "I cannot tell you the answers to those things, I'm just here to deliver the note."

"Note?" She questioned, when Jaime pulled out a piece of parchment and handed it to her.

Livia took it, her eyes sweeping across the letters.

°•°•°•°•°

My Liv,

Remember the place where I was lucky enough to be at the right place and the right time to catch you before you fell. Head over there, love.

Yours,

Robert

°•°•°•°•°

Grinning, she embraced her brother goodbye before she rushed over to the ballroom.

The room was empty, of course. The place streaming with light and a thin layer of dust, and Livia found herself going to the exact spot she danced with Robert.

At the very center. When she arrived at the specific spot, she saw another parchment.

°•°•°•°•°

Liv,

When we first met, I knew that you would change my life. From our lips meeting and from you smacking me across the cheek, I knew that I wouldn't mind meeting you again and seeing those fierce emerald eyes of yours. Your presence made my heart jump from my chest. Even if I had denied it then, I couldn't deny the fact that I yearned to see you again. Now, I'm lucky to see you every day of my life.

Remember where you spoke to me and Ned, ending in me being slapped of course.

Forever,

Robert

°•°•°•°•°

With a laugh, she picked up her skirts, almost running to the gardens. What sort of mystery find is this?

It was almost as if it was a trip down memory lane, reminiscing everything they went through before the present. Gods, he was unexpected.

The keep was a big place and Livia found herself getting tired but her steps never slowed. Her curiosity getting the best of her.

Finally, she arrived at the gardens where it was surprisingly empty. Usually in the afternoons, the nobles roamed the grounds but no one was there.

Livia walked the normal path she was used to when she was faced with a collection of different flowers.

There was a parchment and it was folded into a flower. With a giddy smile, she unfurled it seeing Robert's words.

°•°•°•°•°

My love,

When I saw you in the gardens, that day, I knew I had to speak to you, to hear your voice. You had not spoken in the throneroom and I was desperate to know if anything had changed. But you were perfect. You always had been, even when you think otherwise.

I do not know what your favorite flower is. Hopefully one of these should suffice. Choose one and place it in your hair for me. Cassian and I are waiting for you in the throneroom. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Your darling,

Robert

°•°•°•°•°

She bent down and plucked a single piece of lilac and tucked it behind her ear.

Gods, she couldn't wait. 

Livia ran to the throneroom as fast as her legs could carry her. The wind whipping her hair around her form.

She arrived at the grand doors and with a wave of her hands, the guards opened the doors.

Inside she saw two figures in front of the Iron Throne, just not the two she expected.

"Ned?" Livia spoke up, smiling and rushing over to him.

"My queen." Ned greeted, only to be crushed into a tight embrace.

"Oh Ned, you're really here and Lady Catelyn is with you!" Livia exclaimed as she pulled away from their embrace.

"Hello, my queen. It is a pleasure to meet you." Lady Catelyn answered, curtsying.

"And I, you." Livia replied. Upon seeing the small boy hiding behind Ned and the baby in Catelyn's arms, she smiled. "And you brought Robb and Sansa."

"Yes, we all wanted to be here for your special day, of course." Ned said with a knowing look.

Livia furrowed her eyebrows. "But what special day? Why are you here in King's Landing?"

It also hadn't escaped her notice that Robert was still missing. Just as when she was about to voice out the rest of her questions, the doors opened to show none other than Robert with Cassian in his arms.

"For our wedding, of course!" Robert boomed, striding towards the group confidently.

"Robert!" Livia said, her lips forming a smile. When he finally reached her, she tilted her head up to receive a kiss from him. "What wedding are you going on about? If you'd forgotten, we're already married."

"Only legally." Robert retorted.

Livia rolled her eyes playfully. "Is there any other way to get married?"

"Of course, there is."Robert turned to Cassian with a grin. "Am I right, Cassian?

Cassian was at the time of his childhood where he only answered with one word.

"Yes!" Cassian piped up, laughing.

Livia smirked. "And your father is an idiot. Am I right, Cassian?"

"Yes!"

Robert pulled a mocked expression as Livia cackled. Cassian planted a sloppy kiss on his father's cheek, leaving slobber all over it.

Ned and Catelyn broke into laughter at that, with Ned speaking. "Gods, never would I have thought that I would see you taking up fatherhood."

Robert merely scoffed. "Oh please. I make my fatherhood look this good. You're just envious of my fatherhood talents and abilities."

Livia suddenly remembered why she had been questioning things. "You're actually serious about the wedding thing?"

"Of course I was. I asked you, remember?" Robert said.

"In my sleep!" Livia defended, despite the glee spreading across her body.

"But you said yes and you know what they say. We are most ourselves in our dreams. Allow me to make yours a reality."

With those words, he had her and Livia found herself agreeing to the idea.

"Very well, shall we?"

°•°•°•°•°•°•°

Livia was now sitting in her chambers, in front of her vanity.

Thisel was fixing her hair, braiding it simply with flowers, lilacs specifically. All of her ladies, along with Lady Catelyn were chattering excitedly, even Cersei.

Cassian was on her lap, playing with the rings and bracelets adorning her hands. It was better than him pulling apart the stag and lion necklace decorating her neck.

All of them were dressed in formalwear, even Cassian which was quite adorable.

Livia couldn't help but ask. "Did you all know about this?"

"Yes, Your Grace. King Robert has been preparing for it for weeks. Why do you think we always insisted on taking you to the gardens instead of to the Kingswood like you wanted?" Thisel answered, giggling.

Cersei surprisingly voiced her appreciation. "He's a shockingly romantic man. For a king, I mean."

Livia couldn't help but sigh. "He is."

All of the women cooed, making Cassian look around in confusion. Livia laughed at his expression and put him on his feet.

Her son walked around the room, bumping into everyone with a laugh, stopping only when he saw the baby in Lady Catelyn's arms.

He looked at Livia in a questioning way as if to ask what that little bundle was. "That is little Sansa Stark, Cassian."

Cassian nodded as if processing the information before blasting out loud. "Safsa Sark!"

Everyone was quiet when Livia broke it with a snort. "He's definitely Robert's son, alright."

They all burst into laughter with Cassian breaking into a toothy smile.

"Livvy, it's time to put on your gown." Cersei interrupted.

Livia stood from her vanity, her hair cascading in elegant waves, the lilacs standing out in her golden hair.

Her ladies helped her put it on and upon seeing her reflection, she almost teared up. It was as beautiful as the gown she wore on her first wedding day with Robert.

The white silk, decorated in silver and gold thread. It wrapped around her form, yet it was loose around her shoulders, making it seem like some magical wind had breathed into it. It looked even better with the necklace Robert had gifted her.

"Mama!" Cassian exclaimed, before marvelling at his mother's dress.

Livia picked him up in her arms, peppering kisses across his chubby face. "Oh Cassian, I hope you find someone who will love you as much as I love your father."

Cassian must have processed only one of those words. "Papa!"

"Yes, we should go see your papa now."

°•°•°•°•°•°

Robert fidgeted nervously.

It wasn't like him to be nervous, but he just was.

Dressed in his best, he actually tried for this wedding attire, picking a white cloth, embedded with gold thread and buttons. Matching the one of Livia's.

In his pocket, he inserted a lilac, which he had just learned, was her favorite flower.

He had combed his hair and trimmed his beard, but he still felt like something was missing.

"Looking for something?" Ned spoke up.

Robert turned to his friend to see him holding the white kerchief Livia had gifted him. "Oh thank the gods. I knew I'd forgotten something."

He took the cloth and inserted it with the lilac in his front pocket.

Ned clasped his shoulder. "Nervous?"

"Is it that obvious?" Robert asked.

Ned merely laughed, earning a glare from Robert. "You have nothing to be nervous about, you know. She loves you so much. I am certain she can't wait to see you."

"Thank you, Ned." Robert sincerely said.

"Besides, she already married you back when you were still a prat. I'm sure she'll marry you now that you're less of a prat." Ned joked, laughing.

Robert was just about to tackle the man and ensue a wrestling match when everyone hushed. Every single person important to them. That was it. They didn't need the whole kingdom to be there. Just the people they loved and of course, them.

Robert looked across the aisle, the breath being knocked from his chest.

Gods, Livia would be the death of him. If he saw her looking so much like a goddess every single day, he'd get a heart attack.

She looked so ethereal, almost unreal and yet she was. She was there, she was real and most of all, she was his. As he was hers

She walked down the aisle, lilacs scattered on the aisle, leading up to the altar.

Livia held Cassian's hand as she took each step and from his position, Robert's heart almost leapt, tempting him to meet her halfway.

When she was in front of him, finally, Cassian let go of her hand, moving over to stand by Robb Stark in the front.

Livia's hands weren't empty for long as Robert clasped their hands together. His rough calloused hands enveloping her pearly smooth ones.

It was silent, when Robert remembered that he was supposed to speak. Only she could render him speechless like this.

Robert cleared his throat before speaking. "The night we met, I told you what I thought of weddings. I said that there shouldn't be any pre-planned words. Instead they should be sincere and real. I asked you what kind of wedding you wished for and I asked you to close your eyes. What did you see?"

"I saw lilacs scattered on the floor, I saw the people I loved there to witness the ceremony. When I looked up at the altar, I saw the man I was destined for." Livia said, her eyes shimmering with love. "I saw you. Even if I did not see it that way."

"When I met you, Livia Lannister, I saw someone worth knowing. When I spoke to you, I saw someone worth listening to. When I learned exactly who you were, I saw someone worth loving. But it was too late, I had already loved you then." Robert said, his words resounding throughout the whole forest.

"Robert Baratheon, I never thought I could feel this strongly about someone. I have never met a man sweeter or more passionate than you. You make me see the best in things, the best in myself. You showed me that duty and honor were only placed second when it came to love." Livia continued.

He professed his feelings, baring his heart. "You are my life. I never knew what I was missing until you brought me back to life. I govern this realm as king yet I would not be able to do so without you as my queen. I fight for the righteous because you showed me what it was. I healed for you, because I wanted to love you with everything I am."

She breathed. "My darling, you gave me hope, you gave me dreams. When I saw the future as bleak and unchanging, you shined light upon it. Sometimes, I think I cannot love you anymore than I already do but I find myself looking at you and you prove me wrong. I love you more and more everyday. You have stolen my heart yet given yours as well."

"I could have met you anywhere and I would have loved you, I know that now. Whether it was in King's Landing or Casterly Rock or even Stormsend. You would have been loved by me in all those places." Robert promised, reaching up one hand to cradle her cheek.

"Any place I am standing in, know that I always love you. You deserve everything, you deserve every ounce of my love and you have it. You deserve the world, Robert." Livia said, pressing her cheek to his warmth.

He only smiled. "You are my world. My life, my love, my Liv."

"My darling, my Robert. I am yours, and you are mine. Forever. Always." She said, almost reduced to tears.

"Forever. Always." He echoed her sentiment before meeting her lips with his own.

Her hands cradled his face as she pulled him deeper into the kiss. Not that he was complaining. She was a brilliant kisser.

As everyone erupted into cheers, Robert could only concern himself with Livia.

Soon everyone's cheers broke into laughter as they were still kissing. It wouldn't have stopped until Ned tapped Robert on the shoulder. "Maybe save some for your wedding night."

That had managed to get them to pull away, Livia blushing furiously while Robert's face was covered with a grin.

Standing in front of all the people they loved, Robert and Livia knew they had found happiness.

With their friends and family.

With the realm.

With their son.

Most of all, with each other.

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