Chapter Text
Part 1: Age 5 Months Old
The nursery room attached to their chambers was very large. Against the far wall was the massive weirwood crib that could easily sleep two children of five comfortably. Along the east wall there was a feather bed and a wardrobe for Wylla, Jon's wet nurse. On the opposite wall there was two chests of draws, one for each child and a large ornate over flowing toy chest.
There was room, for the boy in his arms —lots of room. So why, when he had come in, was Jon swaddled in a basket in Wylla's bed?
"The Lady Catelyn, said that crib is to be used only for your heir and not your by blows." The venom Wylla held back from her tongue was seen clearly in her eyes.
Eddard couldn’t help but to share her outrage. Catelyn wasn't his first choice for a wife, and he wasn't her first choice for a husband but they liked each other well enough. That was probably the reason why he hadn’t expected for the woman to be so spiteful. It was not as if he had cast Robb aside, or expected the woman to feed Jon at her breast alongside Robb. All he wanted was the boys to share the nursery. Catelyn didn’t have to have anything to do with Jon if she chose not to; Wylla was there to take care of all the boys needs.
But on some level he supposed he expected it. Ned had heard stories of baseborn children being smothered in their sleep by angry wives. Even though he knew Catelyn was not an evil woman, Ned toted Jon with him to all of his meetings and daily tasks, Wylla the wet nurse never more than a few feet behind in case the child was hungry.
"I will take care of this Wylla." He said looking at the slumbering baby in his arms. The woman nodded and went back to mending one of her gowns.
That night as Catelyn came in from having laid Robb down to sleep in the nursery she looked curiously at Ned who was propped up against the pillows arranging a few of the extra pillows into a square between them to his left.
"What are you doing, Eddard?"
"I don’t want either of us to roll on Jon during the night. The pillows will be buffers." He said matter-of-factly as he settled the dark haired baby down and covered him with a small fur.
"Surely you jape..."
"That crib as you so kindly reminded Wylla, is meant for my Heir not my by blows. I won’t suffer my children far from me so until I can have another crib made, he will sleep here."
"I will not sleep in a bed with your bastard!" She spat, bristling like a cat.
"Then I fear, dear wife that you will have to fetch Vayon and tell him to ready one of the guest chambers for you." Ned's grey gaze caught and held her own; he would not be moved on the issue.
"As you wish," she said stiffly, pulling on a dressing gown over her nightgown and going back into the nursery to retrieve her son.
"No— Cat, leave Robb where he is. I already told you, I'll not have my children far from me."
Catelyn stormed out of the room slamming the heavy door behind her so loud and abruptly that both boys were shocked awake and started to cry.
"Wylla, would you bring Robb to me." Eddard called over Jon's cries as he cradled the boy to his chest. Wylla brought Robb to him, the boy was red faced and shrieking.
As Eddard held the boys close to his chest they began to quiet and look at each other before eventually reaching out and touching one another with chubby clumsy hands. They garbed at one another and eventually when Eddard had laid his boys down on the featherbed they rolled and giggled at one another.
It was plain to see that they loved each other well. An in truth it was hard to believe that they weren’t twins. They were of a similar size and temperament. The only thing that separated them was their looks; Robb with Tully coloring, and Jon with his dark Stark features.
Jon was of an age with Robb. The two boys were quite literally a day apart in age. They got along well. Robb was a jovial little thing, round and cubby and all smiles. Jon was curious, wanting to see, touch and taste everything, he gurgled and squealed when he was spoken to, and loved to be held and hugged.
Both babies were happy, both were hale and healthy.
And in the end that was all he really could hope for in his sons.