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Sansa gets a Saturday night off.
A rare occurrence since she started her summer job babysitting for the Umbers because Mr and Mrs Umber have a long-standing date night every Saturday.
Since starting her job, Sansa’s been over every Saturday to watch their son, TJ. Not tonight, though. Jon, for the first time all summer, has his weekend free, so she decided to take advantage of it. And now here they are at the cinema, waiting in line to buy snacks.
She turns to him with a happy grin, leaning her chin on his shoulder with a satisfied sigh. Curious, she asks, “What snacks are you going to get?”
It’s been six months since they got together, since she stood in front of his doorstep in the hopes that he might feel the same, but this is probably only their third date. Jon doesn’t have a lot of time for dates - she thinks he didn’t even have time for a girlfriend back when they started - but he does his best. Anytime he isn’t working or watching his foster siblings, he makes sure to spend time with her.
“Sour Patch Kids?” He answers questioningly as he eyes the snack bar. “Uh… maybe a bag of chips?”
He’s told her that he hasn’t been to the cinema in years, that they don’t really sit down to watch films at home. Usually, he said, it’s whatever’s a kid-friendly movie is playing on cable.
That’s why she planned this whole date. She likes seeing him experience things; she likes sharing them with him - because she’s in love with him.
It’s a strange thought because she was convinced she’s been in love with him since ninth grade. It’s not the same, though - how she felt before they started dating and how she feels now.
It’s so much stronger, her feelings. It feels so much more… real. She isn’t just in love with the idea of being with him; she’s in love with him. Jon. Stubborn, competitive, annoying, sometimes foolish, gentle, and kind.
She tugs at his arm and wraps it around her shoulder, linking their hands together and pressing a kiss to his knuckles. He gives her a soft look before leaning in for a lingering kiss on her forehead.
They’ve just moved up on the line when she hears someone distantly say, “Is that Sansa?”
She looks around in search of the voice and she’s surprised to find the Umbers making their way to her. They must've decided to turn tonight into a family date night. “Mr and Mrs Umber, hi,” she greets with a bright smile before looking down at the third member of their group. “Hey, TJ.”
He’s got his arms crossed and a frown between his brows. “Who’s he?” He asks, nodding towards Jon.
“TJ, be polite,” Mrs Umber chides, even as his dad laughs loudly.
Sansa turns to Jon, trying to stifle her amusement. It’s been maybe a month since she realized that 9-year-old TJ has a crush on her; it’s his mom who first told her, sharing how TJ dresses up and sprays on his dad's expensive perfume whenever he knows she’s coming over to babysit.
“This is my boyfriend, Jon,” she introduces, bumping Jon lightly with her hip so he’d stop looking so smug.
Jon nods at TJ. “What’s up, little guy?” Then to his parents, “Mr and Mrs Umber, it’s nice to meet you.”
“You as well,” Mrs Umber replies before giving Sansa one of those secretive looks, eyebrows arching up as she smiles in an almost congratulatory way. It makes Sansa’s smile grow wider. “What are you kids planning to watch?”
“Queen of Winter,” she answers.
“Oh, I’m so jealous,” Mrs Umber replies with a sigh. “I wanted to watch that, too, but the boys wanted to see Goldhand instead.”
Sansa gives her a toothy grin. “I thought that’s what we were going to see, too, but Jon’s apparently been dying to see Queen of Winter.”
Jon nods in confirmation with the most innocent smile he can muster. “Yep, just… been wanting to see it since I heard about it.”
Sansa rolls her eyes fondly at him. She planned this entire date to spoil him. Because she loves him and she thinks he deserves to be romanced. But then they got in line for tickets and he refused to let her pay for Goldhand because, despite not having to admit it, he knows it’s not a movie she would typically choose. So it was either she lets him pay for Goldhand, or she pays for ‘the movie he actually wants to see’.
The line moves up ahead of them and Mrs Umber says, “Oh, we don’t want to hold you up. TJ, say goodbye.”
"I'll see you on Monday, Sansa,” is all he says before giving Jon a long, judgemental look and then turning away.
Mrs Umber gives them a wry smile. “Sorry about him, I think his heart just broke a little,” she jokes before saying her goodbyes.
Jon chuckles once they’re gone. “Did I just become part of that kid’s villain origin story?"
***
On Monday, she’s barely through the Umbers’ front door when TJ comes running, waving a report card at her.
Sansa takes the card, likely from last school year, and notes that he has decent grades. “Wow, TJ,” she coos because there's really nothing else to do, “Your grades were really good.”
He nods. “Can your boyfriend do that?”
Sansa’s lips twitch before she schools her expression back to polite neutrality. “Well, Jon is really smart. He's in the top two in our grade.”
TJ’s face sours and he takes the report card back. “I can do better next year. I’ll be the top one in my grade.”
This time, Sansa does smile at him. “Good. You should always do your best in whatever you decide to do, that way you won’t have regrets.”
“Well, then, why is your boyfriend top two and not doing his best?”
Sansa laughs, ruffling his hair fondly. “Trust me, he’s trying. Unfortunately for him, I’m way smarter.”
***
Sansa babysits him again the following Wednesday when Mrs Umber has a meeting in town.
After Sansa gives him his afternoon snack, he heaves out a long sigh and says, “What do you even like about that guy?”
She blinks at him, though she already knows who he means. “What guy?”
“That Jon guy. Your boyfriend,” he says it like it physically pains him to label Jon as her boyfriend.
“Oh,” she says, sitting on the stool across from him. “I like a lot of things about him. I like that he’s smart, determined, and hard-working. I like that he’s sweet and caring, that he’s respectful, and that he’s not the best at expressing himself but tries for me. And -”
“I could do those things, too,” he cuts in.
“I’m sure you could,” Sansa agrees with a slight smile. “And you’ll make someone really happy for it one day. When you're old enough and meet the right person.”
His expression shutters and he directs a frown at his food.
***
“You look extra nice today,” TJ says with narrowed eyes, his words sounding more like an accusation than a compliment.
“Thank you,” she says as she hangs her coat on the rack.
“Why?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why do you look extra pretty?” He asks. “With your dress and your face and everything?”
She laughs. “I’m not sure how to answer that. What do you want to do today?”
He scrutinizes her with narrowed eyes for a moment longer before deciding to give it up. “Do you want to watch minecraft videos with me?”
“Sure. Go put something on the TV and I’ll get your snacks.”
They watch youtube videos for about two hours, which is how long his mom allows it, and then she asks if he wants to do crafts. He agrees, so they set up in the living room and chat idly as they work.
Halfway through it, her phone rings, and she excuses herself to the kitchen before answering.
“Hey,” she says breathily. It never gets old, seeing Jon’s name on the caller ID. It always sends her heart aflutter, knowing he wants to talk to her.
“Hey, love,” he greets in that soft tone he reserves for her. “We’re already finishing up for the day, so I thought I’d pick you up. What time do you get off?”
“Mrs Umber should be home in about thirty minutes. So… six?”
“Alright. I’ll be there soon.”
“Okay,” she answers with a giddy smile that he can’t even see, “I’ll see you then.”
He’s quiet for a moment, then in a shy rush of words, he says, “I can’t wait to see you. Bye.”
He drops the call then, and Sansa’s still grinning as she returns to their makeshift craft-making station in the living room.
“Who was that?” TJ asks when she comes back.
“That was Jon.”
His face sours. “What did he want?”
“He just wanted to know what time he could pick me up,” she answers easily. When his expression darkens the same way it always would when he would ask about Jon, she pushes her craft materials gently to the side and leans on the coffee table to give him a serious look. “TJ, I think it’s time we have a talk.”
“About what?”
She’s had some time to think about this; she doesn’t want to talk about his crush on her unless he brings it up himself because she doesn’t want to embarrass him. But there is something she wants to discuss.
Sansa remembers having a crush at that age on Waymar Royce. He interned with her dad one summer when she was ten or so, with his raven-dark hair and deep, dark eyes. She fancied herself in love with him and was convinced she could make him fall in love with her.
She also remembers watching him start to date a girl he interned with. A blonde girl named Elyn, who was pretty but so dull that Sansa couldn’t fathom why he’d like her. She resented that girl for no real reason other than feeling as if she ‘stole’ the love of her life.
It’s funny to think about now, and she’s sure TJ would laugh about this once he’s older, but she doesn’t enjoy the idea that a sweet little boy is villainizing her boyfriend in his head.
“I'm getting the sense that you don't like my boyfriend,” she begins slowly. “Do you mind telling me why?”
His brows furrow in thought, then he mumbles out, “I mean… he likes girl movies.”
“I like girl movies,” she points out. “Is there something wrong with that?”
“Well… no,” he admits, then says, “I just think you deserve someone better than him.”
“Okay…” she says, pretending to consider it. “Someone like who? What do you think is better?”
“Well, someone… cuter,” he starts and she tries not to laugh. “And someone you can hang out and read comic books with. And watch minecraft videos with. And someone to play roblox with.”
She hums thoughtfully.. “TJ, that sounds like things you like.”
He frowns then. “You don’t… you don’t like doing those things?”
“I don’t dislike them,” she says gently. “But those things are your interests, not mine.”
He goes quiet, his frown deepening. “But you have roblox on your phone.”
“I really only have it because my little brother downloaded it for me. I only play roblox with him and you, because you boys like it.”
“And you don't like Minecraft?”
She shakes her head no
“How about crafts? you like crafts”
“I do like crafts.”
He nods eagerly. "I like it too.”
The front door opens then and in comes his mom. “Hi, darlings,” she greets with a pretty smile as she takes off her coat and bag. TJ gets up to greet her with a hug and kiss, with his mom cooing at him. Then Mrs Umber looks toward Sansa. “Was that Jon I saw out there?”
“Oh.” Sansa checks her phone and sees Jon’s text letting her know he’s outside. “Yeah, that should be him.”
Mrs Umber smiles at that. “What a sweetheart. Well, then I won’t keep you.” She opens her bag to get some cash and hands it to Sansa. “See you Saturday.”
***
Since Jon’s only picking up additional shifts over the summer, his schedule is pretty up in the air and his days off tend to be unpredictable.
Like today.
He was supposed to be covering a shift for a co-worker at the bookstore, but there ended up being a scheduling mix-up and his boss called him to say he's not needed,
With a sudden free time on his hands, he asked her out on a lunch date, and they've only just finished eating when Sansa's phone starts ringing with a call from Mrs Umber.
She frowns at it in confusion.
“What is it?” Jon asks, noticing her expression.
“It's Mrs Umber,” she explains. “She never calls, she usually just texts me to set a babysitting schedule.
This makes Jon frown as well. “Answer it then. It must be important.”
He turns out to be right. Mrs Umber greets her in a panicked tone, asking if Sansa could watch TJ because her husband had a medical emergency while at work and she needed to go to the hospital.
Sansa didn't need to hear more than that and agreed to go over immediately. Jon drove her without complaint, even though he had a whole day planned for them and he'd been so excited to surprise her with it.
Jon has only just stopped the car in front of the Umbers’ house when Mrs Umber comes rushing out the front door. Sansa has never seen the woman so panicked and disheveled; it reminds her of the time they got a call that her dad broke his leg on a camping trip with his buddies and she witnessed her mom nearly fall apart in distress.
Her heart clenches at the thought and she rushes out of the car to meet Mrs Umber halfway.
“Thank you for coming so quickly,” Mrs says in a tearful voice, leaning on Sansa’s outstretched arms for strength. “My in-laws live out of town, so I couldn't call them, and we don't really know many people here. If you didn't pick up, I would've had to bring TJ and I don't want to worry him until I knew - oh, Jon, you're here, I didn't even -” She runs a hand through her long dark hair. “- were you guys on a date? Oh, I'm so sorry, I -”
“There's no need to apologize,” Sansa is quick to assure in a calm voice. “What's important is we get you to Mr Umber. Is there no one to take you to the hospital?”
She shakes her head. “I have my car. I can -”
“I can drive you, Mrs Umber,” Jon volunteers, and the crease between his eyebrows tells Sansa that he shares her concern about her driving anywhere in this state. “Torrhen’s Grace is on my way home anyway, it won't be any trouble.”
“Are you sure?”
Jon nods.
Mr Umber accepts gratefully. She quickly heads back inside the house to grab her things and say goodbye to TJ, and Sansa walks up to Jon's truck.
“Thank you for doing this,” she tells him, leaning up for a kiss which he gives her instinctively. As he's pulling back, she tells him. “Don't ever do that to me.”
His brows crease. “Don't do what?”
“Don't get hurt,” she says it like it's obvious. His frown clears and he starts to smile. “I’m being serious. I don't think I'll be able to handle it.”
He's full on grinning now as he leans in to press a longer kiss upon her lips. When he pulls back, there's a soft glint in his eyes as he promises, “I'll do everything I can to never worry you like that.”
***
TJ knows something's wrong, which shouldn't have been a surprise considering how openly distraught his mother was before she left.
“Is my Dad going to be okay?” Is the question he greets her with when she's barely through the door.
“Uh… why do you think he wouldn't be?” She deflects, moving to sit next to him on the couch.
His mom had asked her not to tell him anything until they knew more about his dad's condition.
“I know Dad's in the hospital,” TJ confesses, his face contorting with worry. “I overheard Mom on the phone. She tried to pretend everything was fine, but I could tell.”
“Oh, TJ…” She puts an arm around his shoulder for comfort. “I don't know anything yet, but as soon as your mom tells me something, I promise I’ll tell you. Okay?”
“Okay,” he agrees even as his face scrunches and tears start to fall. “Can we watch a movie?”
Sansa agrees, though it doesn't seem like enough of a distraction for TJ. He keeps bouncing his leg and looking out the window impatiently. He also looks at her expectantly every time her phone lights up with a message.
She tells him that it's just Jon. What she doesn't say is that her boyfriend decided to stay at the hospital to help and has been keeping her updated.
It takes hours before they receive news. Fortunately, it's relatively good news. Mr Umber is ordered to stay at the hospital overnight for observation, but Jon assures her that he seems okay. Apparently, he's already cracking jokes to simultaneously annoy his wife and ease her worries.
Realizing that Mrs Umber is conflicted about whether to go home to her son or stay at the hospital in case something else happens, Jon volunteers to have his mom watch TJ for the night.
He gets his mom on the phone to arrange things with Mrs Umber before he drives back to fetch TJ and take Sansa home. During that time, Mrs Umber calls Sansa to confirm the plans and asks to speak to TJ. They tell him what happened and his dad even chats with him for a few minutes to reassure him.
TJ’s mood lifts thanks to that phone call, but by the time Jon arrives, he's back to being antagonistic with her boyfriend. He comes down from his room after packing his bag and his face instantly sours when he sees Jon. “What's he doing here?”
“You’ll be staying at his house tonight, remember?” Sansa reminds him gently. “Your mom said she explained it when she talked to you earlier.”
“No,” he denies, crossing his arms. “Mom said I’ll be staying with a Mrs. Snow.”
“That’s my mom, little dude,” Jon informs him. “I’m here to pick you up.”
“No way.” TJ turns to Sansa, distraught. “I don’t want to go with him. Why can’t I just stay here with you?”
“Because your parents will feel better to have a responsible adult watching you overnight,” she explains gently. “I promise Jon’s mom is great. She’ll -”
“She’s not the problem,” he cuts in with a glare at Jon. “He is.”
Sansa opens her mouth and shuts it again, unsure of how to respond to that. She turns to Jon for help, hoping he’ll promise he’ll be nice or something.
Instead, he says, “It’s a shame you don't want to go with me because I’ve been wanting a one-on-one with the guy who’s been trying to steal my girl.”
“Jon,” she chides softly.
Jon only gives her a look that seems to say ‘trust me’ before turning back to TJ. “You play roblox, don't you?”
“Yeah, I play roblox,” TJ answers, puffing his chest proudly.
Jon stifles a smile. “Okay, then I challenge you to a 1v1 on Rivals. Best of five wins.”
TJ narrows his eyes at him. “What do I get when I win?”
“What do you want?”
TJ takes a second to consider this. “When I win, you’re not allowed to come around here anymore.”
Jon snorts at that. “Alright. Then when I win, you’re not allowed to be mean to me anymore.”
TJ sighs before holding a hand out. “Fine. Deal.”
***
Jon drops her off at her house first, and though she’s aware that there's a kid in his backseat, Sansa can't help but lean in to kiss her boyfriend.
She's always had a bit of a crush on him since she met him in middle school, fancied herself in love with him since ninth grade, but she has never ever felt as much affection for him as she did today. There were a few times she worried that he'd get mad at her or just leave, yet he never did. He was patient, understanding, and beyond helpful.
She loves him so much that she's bursting with it, and she doesn't know what to do with it, except to say it to him. And so she does.
She presses her lips against his and breathes the words into him. “I love you,” she tells him for the first time.
She feels him smile against her lips before pulling back to look her in the eye and say, “I love you, too.”
She'd revel in it, obsess over the husky way he says it, maybe even ask him to say it again, but TJ makes retching sounds in the backseat, which reminds Sansa that they're not alone. She pulls away from Jon with reddened cheeks as he chuckles.
“Alright, kid, we get it. You can stop,” He tells TJ before giving her a mischievous smile. “Go on then, I'll leave once you’re inside, my Sugar Plum Pumpkin Sweetie Pie.”
TJ starts retching again and she can't help but giggle at how ridiculous the situation is as she jumps out of his truck.
***
She gets home just in time for dinner, and she doesn't get a chance to check in with Jon again until bedtime, once he's done playing roblox with TJ.
“How'd it go?” she asks sleepily, propping her phone against a teddy bear so she doesn't have to hold the camera to her face.
“I won,” he tells her smugly. “But don't worry, I promise I let him win a few times, so you don’t have to feel bad about rooting for me.”
She smiles at that, but she doesn’t acknowledge that she was rooting for her boyfriend to win against a child in some silly game.
“I didn't even know you played video games,” she tells him with a yawn.
“Just sometimes. A lot of the foster kids brought to us as their first placement like to play those kinds of games. It's a good way to break the ice and sort of make them feel normal.”
They talk for a bit longer, but the day has been so exhausting for both of them that they don’t stay on the call for too long.
The next day, she decides to come over to Jon’s to check in on TJ and maybe help out Jon’s mom with watching the kids if she needs it.
To her surprise, TJ’s smile drops when he sees her come through the door. That's a first, she thinks. “Oh. I thought you were Jon.”
“Sorry to disappoint,” she says, eyebrows arching up. “Any particular reason you’re waiting for Jon?”
“I wanted to play Age of Heroes with him again before Mom and Dad got here,” he explains. “We played last night and he's good at playing controller champions.”
Sansa has no idea what that means, but it sounds like Jon has managed to win TJ’s friendship overnight.
“Well… he’s still at work, but he should be home soon,” she informs him. “I brought some art materials with me. How about, while we wait for Jon, we make your dad a nice card for when he gets home?”
TJ agrees, though he clearly wishes he could play video games with Jon instead. Still, doing art is a good way to pass the time; TJ gets so determined to give his dad a nice present that it takes him an hour to finish making something
It’s another hour before Jon arrives. By then, Sansa is watching a movie with TJ and Jon's younger siblings while his mom is out with his grandma for their usual afternoon walk around the neighborhood.
TJ is the first one up when Jon comes into the house, rushing towards him just as Sansa’s standing up. “Jon, Jon, you're home! Can we play Age of Heroes again? I've been waiting all day.”
Unbelievable, Sansa can't help but think incredulously. Since meeting Jon, the kid has been subtly hinting that her boyfriend's not worth her time. Now Sansa has to compete with him for said boyfriend's attention.