It was a beautiful sunny day and the countryside they drove through was covered with fresh white snow. Today was Sandor's last day at Winterfell and while it did make Sansa sad whenever she thought about it, the idea that they were now engaged filled her with such joy that she couldn't stop smiling in spite of it. Besides, whenever the thought of how she would miss him invaded her mind, she only had to gaze down at her finger and look at the breathtaking ring Sandor had given her to brighten her mood. It was not only the most splendid piece of jewellery she had ever seen, but the symbol of the love they shared, which made it even more beautiful.

"So, will you tell me where we're going now?" Sansa demanded, gazing at Sandor expectedly. When they left the castle some ten minutes before, he had only told her he had a surprise for her, but had refused to elaborate even after Sansa asked him multiple times.

Again, Sandor smiled at her slyly. "We're almost there," he rasped, turning to a small lane by the main road. He drove another half-minute or so and pulled van into the driveway of a pretty cottage built of grey stones and slate.

"What are we doing here?" Sansa asked, both impatient and curious.

"This house's for sale. I thought that maybe, if we both like it, I could buy it. But if it's not to your taste, that's fine. It doesn't have to be this one, could be any other."

"You wanna buy a house?" she let out, taken aback.

"Well, you've always told me you wanted to work at Winterfell in your family's business after you're done with your school. I wouldn't have the heart to keep you in King's Landing knowing how much you love it here. Besides, we're going to marry at Winterfell, so why not stay in the North after that?"

Her lips agape, Sansa was staring at him with wide, disbelieving eyes. "You want to move to the North?"

"Well, if that's what you want also of course. We could live anywhere as far as I'm concerned. I have no attachment to King's Landing. No family, just a few friends. Still, from what I've seen of the North so far, I prefer it a lot to the South. I would love to live here and this house is near to Winterfell, yet far enough that I would not feel like I had just moved in with your parents. Seemed like a good fit to me when I saw the listing."

Sansa's mind was turning at a hundred miles an hour. She had not expected this at all. "But what about Hound's Electrical Services? You're going to have to start over if you move your company here."

"You're right, but that doesn't worry me. I have a good resume and my reputation as an electrician is rock solid by now. Besides, I've heard there was a shortage of qualified workers in the North, so I'm sure it's going to be just fine."

"You really think so?" Sansa asked, growing increasingly excited. She hadn't thought of what they would do after they had wed, had not considered it at all.

"Course I do," he assured her, smiling that crooked smile of his.

"Oh, Sandor, that would be so wonderful! Of course I want to live in the North with you!" she cried out, beaming at him. "And this house, it is really lovely - from the outside at least. I had seen it before and always thought it looked very quaint. But…" Sansa hesitated. "Do you really have the means to buy it? And what about those three years we'll stay in King's Landing?"

"We could rent it. I could pay your sister, or any of those friends of yours I met the other night at the bar, to keep an eye on the tenants. As for the money, don't you worry about it. I can pay for the house."

Sansa bit at her lip. "This seems like a nice house though, Sandor. I know you make a good living, but are you sure this is reasonable considering you'll still have to pay your rent in King's Landing on top of all the payments this will imply?"

Exhaling loudly, Sandor tilted his head to the side and considered her for a long, silent moment. "Sansa… I never told you, well… something. You know that competition I won in Dragon Stone?"

"The one you fought against that Dothraki man?"

He nodded. "Well, the price, it was not just a title and a belt you know. I also won a very healthy sum of money."

"How much?" she asked with bated breath.

Leaning his forearm against her headrest, Sandor bowed over her and whispered a number in her ear.

"What?!" Sansa shrieked. "You never told me!"

"I know, sorry, little bird," he said, looking sincerely apologetic. "Never found the perfect occasion. It's just not the first thing you tell a girl when you start dating her. But then, when's the good time to share something like that? I waited, time passed and... yeah…" He shook his head and glanced at the van's ceiling. "Should've told you long ago…"

"That's fine. I'm surprised, not mad," Sansa assured him, her eyes still rounded though a small smile was now curving her lips.

"It's not that I didn't trust you. I don't trust anyone as much as you, I hope you know it," Sandor insisted. "But the truth is, I also never felt like it was something you would care all that much about. You family's not poor either - your dad being a lord and all - and I was not going to impress you with my winning."

"But I am impressed, Sandor!" she assured him, her smile morphing into a wide grin. "I'm sure no one was ever as strong and skilled as you in the cage. You're my champion! And now, we're engaged and going to buy a house! Oh my gods, this is all sooo exciting!"

Snaking her arms around his shoulders as much as she could from her seat, she pressed her lips to his. He kissed her back and cupped her cheek in one large hand. Sansa was so happy and, shutting her eyes, she thanked the gods for having put Sandor in her path. They were so very different; if it hadn't been for him living upstairs of Margaery and Loras, they most likely would never have met. How sad that would've been!

Nevertheless, for all of her joy and gratefulness, there was still one very important matter to settle and about which Sansa had thought of all morning. Now was a good time as any to broach the subject, she decided.

"Sandor…?" she started, looking at him through her eyelashes. "I was thinking, for the wedding… Well it would be nice if we followed tradition and did the first dance. When I pictured how my wedding would be as a child, that was always the moment I was looking forward to the most. We have to do it: the reception wouldn't be complete without it!"

Sandor narrowed his eyes at her, sensing where she was going with this.

"We should take dance lessons. It's part of the normal preparation for a wedding – no one wants to make a fool of themselves by stepping on their partner's toes, not when so many people are watching! Also, it could be a way for you to make amends for having not told me about your winning sooner…"

Throwing his head back, Sandor barked one of his rough laughs. "You know how to get what you want, don't you, little bird? All right, I'll do it since it's so important for you," he rasped, shaking his head in a mix of resignation and mirth.

Sansa squeaked in delight, however the frown that creased his brow told her he was not done speaking yet.

"I warn you though, Sansa," he rasped, crossing his arms over his broad chest and lifting his chin at her. "I'll spin you around and throw you in the air all that you want, yet I am not gonna learn to move my hips like a bloody Dornishman. Is that clear?"

Nodding, Sansa smiled at him sweetly. That was good enough for now. "Thank you, Sandor! You're the best boyfriend ever and I'm sure you'll be the best husband as well!"

Sandor's expression softened at that and he chuckled as Sansa left her seat to straddle him. They kissed, unexpectedly chastely in spite of their position, and would probably have kept going for much longer if not for the car that parked not far from them.

"Must be the listing agent," Sandor said, peeking in its direction. "We should probably get out before she sees us like that," he prompted, opening the door and slapping Sansa's butt.

Giggling, she let herself slide down from his lap until her feet had touched the snowy ground. "It's too late! I actually think she saw you smack my ass."

"Well, so be it," Sandor muttered smugly. After having followed her out of the van, he shut the door behind himself. "Let's go and visit that house now, what do you say?"

"Of course," Sansa agreed with a wide grin.

And so, hand in hand, they walked towards the cottage, their life ahead of them looking just as beautiful as the clear northern, blue sky above their heads.

THE END