Chapter Text
Jon takes a deep breath, inhaling the fresh air as the car sped through White Harbor. They're not in Winterfell yet but even in the southernmost part of the North the cold hits him like a refreshing splash of water in the morning.
If King's Landing weren't so hot and humid maybe it wouldn't suck as much as it does -- but Jon highly doubts it. Aside from the unbearable heat, it's the people there that he dislikes. They're all too big and pompous, acting like they own the world. Even the kids in his class treat him like dirt and he just wishes he can stay in Winterfell so he doesn't have to deal with them anymore.
It takes a few more hours before they finally get there but Jon's already jumping out of his seat and running into his mother's arms before the car has fully stopped in front of their apartment building.
"Mom," he breathes out quietly, revelling in the warmth of her embrace. It makes him feel safe and secure and he almost forgets how horrible the past year has been without her. "I missed you so much."
This, among many things, is what he hates most about King's Landing. When he's there, his mother is always too far away. Too far to give him comfort, too far to wrap him up in her tiny arms to make him feel better.
That's not how it's supposed to be. For as long as he can remember he's only ever had his mother. They've always been a team; they took care of each other no matter what - but his father took that away.
Rhaegar Targaryen is not a horrible man, at least not as far as Jon knows. But the truth is that he hasn't spent enough time with his father to be sure. If he thinks about it, he can probably count on one hand, the number of times Rhaehar had given him his complete and undivided attention in the entire year he's spent living with him and his family -- and that's the kind of thing that makes Jon wonder why his father would take him from people who genuinely loves him when he doesn't even seem to care.
"Look at you, you've gotten taller," his mom gasps out, brushing his hair back in astonishment. "My baby's all grown up."
"Mom, I'm not a baby anymore," he whines out, feigning annoyance despite the smile that's fighting to break out.
"Of course you're not, sweetling. You're practically a man grown," she teases with an amused laugh, pressing a kiss right there between his brows. "Come on, let's grab your stuff and head on up."
Jon introduces his mom to Oswell, who's already taken out his bag from the trunk. He's grinning at Jon, pleased to see him so happy and contented for once.
Out of anyone, Oswell would know how difficult it's been for him down South. Though his official job is unclear to Jon, he considers Os to be his closest friend in King's Landing; the one person who's been there for him since he got there.
"I'll see you in two months, Os," he said with a quick hug, giving Oswell a wide smile. "Thanks for driving me here."
He snorted, ruffling Jon's hair fondly. "Literally my job so it's really no problem, kid." He gave Jon a serious look. "Call me if you need anything, yeah?" Jon nodded in assurance before Os turned his attention to his mother, offering a hand. "It was nice to meet you, Ms. Snow. I'll be back by the end of the summer for Jon."
"Of course. Nice to meet you too, Oswell." His mother replies with a kind smile. "Thanks for taking care of my boy."
As soon as they're in the apartment, Jon feels his mouth tug up in a satisfied smile. So much has changed in his life that he's glad he can count on some things to remain the same.
It's still just their tiny apartment in Wintertown; it looks and feels lived in, as it always has, and it may be nothing compared to his father's mansion in the South but this is home and it's always where he'd rather be.
"So... what do you want to do, kiddo?" Her mother asked as soon as they're finished eating, waiting for him to decide.
She's taken a day off for his arrival so they've got the rest of the day to do whatever he wants but if he's honest, he just wants to stay home and talk to his mother, like they used to, so that's what they do.
When he was in King's Landing, they usually spoke on the phone so she's not out of the loop with his life but it's different talking to her in person and he finds himself unable to stop. He tells her all about King's Landing; the places he's visited and the wonderful things he'd learned about them. He tells her about school; the classes he likes, his grades and even the friend he'd made, Samwell Tarly. He tells her about the Targaryens, too; his siblings, Rhaenys and Aegon, and his stepmother, Elia. He even says a little about his father.
What he doesn't tell her is how much he hates everything there; he doesn't tell her that he's sad all the time and he wishes he were in Winterfell instead. He doesn't tell her how lonely it still feels, living in a massive house filled with so many people. He doesn't tell her that school sucks and aside from his siblings, the kids are mean and wouldn't leave him alone. He doesn't even tell her how difficult it is with his siblings, no matter how nice they are, because he's just too different from them.
"Can I go over at Robb's tomorrow?" He asked just before retreating into his room to sleep, biting his lips hopefully as he looked at his mother. "Maybe we can hang out at the diner while you work? Or the park if Mr. Stark lets us go."
"Of course, sweetling." His mother ruffled his hair. "Arya's been calling all day asking for you, too, I'm sure she'd love it if you boys let her tag along."
Jon nodded with a grin. It sounds just like old times and it's only been half a day but things are already looking up. "Yeah, will do. Thanks, mom."
He calls Robb early in the morning to see if he's free and they make plans for Jon to come over for lunch before they head out to the park to meet Theon and the rest of the boys.
It's little Arya who greets him first when he gets to the Starks', screaming "Jon's here," into the house repeatedly before she comes running toward him in excitement.
Jon laughed as soon as she leapt into his arms, grinning happily.
"Hey, Little Wolf." He ruffled her hair and set her down. He greets Robb next, who runs out of the house upon Arya's loud announcement, and then Bran who's still the same sneaky boy he remembers and tiny baby Rickon who probably doesn't even remember him.
It's a joyous event that Jon's imagined plenty of times since his father had told him that he could come to Winterfell over the summer and the only one missing is Sansa - which he's quietly disappointed about until he gets inside and spots her.
Unlike her siblings, she's more subdued with her greeting, simply giving him a bright smile and a polite greeting. It's no surprise really, they've never been close to merit the kind of greeting Arya and the others had for him, but he wouldn't have minded being able to hug her.
He looked down a moment, trying to push the thought away. He waits until the rest of the Starks are heading into the dining room before he finally looked up and handed her the small package he's tucked into his jeans.
"For you," he tells her, feeling the heat rush up his cheeks as she took it curiously. "It's Florian and Jonquil... first edition." He clears his throat. "My friend Sam sold it to me because he's saving up for something and his dad won't -- " he stopped his ramble, giving her a sheepish smile. "Anyway, I... I thought you might like it."
She flashes him another smile, bigger than the last, and it makes him flush a deeper shade red. "I do like it. Thank you Jon, but... what is it for?"
He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "As a thank you."
He remembers the last time they spoke; they were at her house, too, over a year ago, on the night before he was set to leave for King's Landing. Her parents had invited Jon and his mom over for dinner so that they could all share a meal before his flight, and just before the night ended Sansa had promised him something.
"I can visit your mom sometimes, if you want, keep her company...," she offered once they had a moment alone.
Not that he'd shared it with anybody but he has been worrying about his mother. He keeps thinking about what she'll do without him. She's terrible at remembering to rest or to eat, always too busy working for them both, and Jon's afraid that no one will remind her to take care of herself without him there.
Jon looked at her curiously. "You'd do that?"
Sansa nodded with a knowing smile. "Yes, I would. Your mom's pretty cool, you know. I wouldn't want her to be sad while you're away."
Jon offered her a smile. "Thank you, Sansa."
She'd kept her promise; during their weekly phone calls, his mom would often tell him about whatever new girly thing she and Sansa had done, and it always gives him relief to know that even though he's far away, someone's looking out for his mother and making sure that she's not sad all the time, so he gives Sansa the gift as a sign of thanks and he hopes that it could be the start of a friendship.
The rest of the summer flies by pretty quickly, to Jon's absolute disappointment. He's not sure how time could've gone so quickly but he wishes he had more. Unfortunately, that's not possible. Tomorrow morning Oswell would be back to pick him up and then he's back in King's Landing where everything is horrible.
"I'm the King in the North," Robb screamed at the top of his lungs as he ran towards the hotspring, somersaulting into the air before landing on the water with a big splash.
Rickon follows him closely behind, screaming the same sentiments in his tiny voice before jumping into the pool himself, making everybody else laugh in amusement.
They're swimming around in the hotsprings today, unable to come up with anything else exciting to do for his last day home. Jon tries not to dwell on how much he will miss this and he fails. As much as he loves his siblings for who they are, he just can't help wishing for them to be more like the Starks; all wild and playful, bringing out the same kind of energy in Jon.
A part of him is glad that they're not, mostly because he doesn't want to have a reason to like King's Landing. To him, Winterfell is his home, his mom and the Starks are his family, and nothing can ever compare.
"Good book?" Jon asked quietly as he approached Sansa who's sitting comfortably under the shade of a tree.
She's the only one not swimming, as usual, and Jon thought he'd give her some company if she were interested.
Sansa looked up at him, surprised but otherwise pleased to find him there. "It is, actually," she lets him know, raising the cover to show him that it's the same one he'd given her at the start of the summer. "I actually wanted to give you something in return."
"Oh, you didn't have to get me anything, Sansa, it's - "
She's already planted a kiss on his cheek before he could finish his sentence and it's enough to render him speechless, his eyes wide in surprise as butterflies fluttered madly in his stomach.
"Thank you for the book, Jon," Sansa tells him earnestly, smiling shyly up at him. "I really do love it."
He swallowed. "Of course," is all he can say, his cheeks burning red as he tried to get a grasp on what just happened.
Somehow, despite the fact that this is his last day in Winterfell before he has to leave, it's still the best day ever.