Here it is .. the last chapter ... thanks for sticking around.

15. The Final Steps.

On her way to Riverrun, Catelyn was mulling over all the recent events. She cursed the day King Robert Baratheon arrived in Winterfell and changed their lives forever. He had taken her husband and her two daughters with him. Ned was gone, and Arya was missing, and she feared she would never find her again. How could a ten-year-old girl survive everything that had happened? She pictured her daughter scared and alone roaming the fields of Westeros and she couldn't help the tear running down her cheek and the burning pain in her heart. The pain intensified when she thought of Robb. Her sweet Robb butchered right in front of her. She resented the war and what it had done to her family. Not only was Robb killed because of the war, but she had also lost her two youngest sons. She was extremely grateful to all the gods for giving her Rickon back. But Bran was gone. He was gone beyond the Wall to lands she could not even begin to imagine. Where was he? Was he alive? Had Jon found him? If he had, she would surely have heard by now. She had actually lost all hope of finding her two remaining children, but that did not mean she would stop looking. She had asked Stannis to be on the lookout for Arya, and begged him to make her privy to whatever rumour or piece of information regarding a possible sighting of Arya came to his ears. She would do the same in all the castles and towns she passed by.

She still could not wrap her head around the fact that she had, indeed, died and had been brought back. She didn't want to dwell on it so much. She was afraid she might have angered the Gods. But she rationalized it that it was not her fault. It was not her who had defied the Gods by not staying dead, it had been Lady Melisandre and her God. She was just grateful for the second chance she had been given. Yes, she had done despicable things since her return, and she prayed for forgiveness and understanding to her Gods. She was not proud of what she had done to Cersei, Petyr and Walder Frey, but she was not going to lie to herself and not admit that her vengeance made her feel better. Did that make her a bad person now? She didn't know, but she was, truth be told, afraid of the answer.

No, you're not a bad person, Cat. You're just someone who has been wronged and tried to make things right. "Ned? Oh Ned, I'm not so sure, I have killed people in cold blood." So have I. Am I a bad person? "No, of course not!" I have executed many people in my life. You have seen me doing so. You and I live by the Northern rules. He that passes the sentence swings the sword. That's what I have always done. You have done the same thing. You passed sentence, you swung the sword. "You're just trying to humour me, I know. I appreciate it." I'm proud of you and what you have achieved. Cat, our family was a shambles. You have found Sansa and Rickon. You have reclaimed Winterfell and the North. You have won the war neither I nor Robb could. You have restored honour to our name. I appreciate the fact that you have kept my name, Lady Stark. "I never stopped being Lady Stark"And, you have found it in your heart to mend my wrongs. I wronged both you and Jon. Yet, you have opened yourself to him and he to you. I'm proud of you and I thank you. "Oh, Ned. Don't ever leave me! Please!" I won't. I am yours and you are mine. "I am yours and you are mine, my Love"

So wrapped up was she in her inner conversation with Ned that she did not realize her hand had got caught in the reins. The leather strap snapped and cut through her index and middle finger. "Agh!" she gasped in pain. What happened? Ned asked her. "I got my fingers in the reins and it hurt." That's nothing, my Love, you've had worse. "Yes, but it hurt and it's bleeding" she explained. Are you really in pain? It's just a small cut, my Love, he asked confused. "No, Ned, you don't understand, it really did hurt, albeit not much, and it did bleed, even if just a few drops." Cat, if you really are in pain, you should stop and get the doctor to look at your hand. "No! You're missing the point. Ned, I died but I came back. What if I am undead of sorts?" Undead? "What if I don't die?" Don't die? "Stop echoing me! When Melisandre brought me back I was afraid her spell might have made me immortal. The fact that it hurt and that I bled means I'm not. I can get hurt, I can die." Oh, Cat, I'm sorry. "No, it's a good thing. I'm relieved! I want to have a long and happy life, but I don't want to live forever like some kind of monster." Oh Cat, you and your logic! Only you can be happy to die! Ned chuckled sweetly. "Don't twist my words. I'm not happy to die, just relieved that I'm not an undead whitewalker! I will die eventually, just like everybody else. Not yet, though. I've been given a second chance and I'm planning on seizing it." I know, and I will be waiting for you, partially scarred fingers and all.

Upon arriving in Riverrun, she embraced her two children and vowed never to leave them again. She told Edmure everything that had occurred in King's Landing. He already knew of a few things since Stannis had sent ravens to all his subjects informing them of the recent events and presenting himself as their new King. They were glad the Blackfish was part of the Small Council. He would take care of them and keep their best interest and well-being in mind: Lysa at the Vale, Edmure at Riverrun and Catelyn at Winterfell.

Before leaving Riverrun she had made sure to send a letter to Jon, telling him that they were on their way home to Winterfell and that he was welcome to join them if he wished to do so. He would always be a Stark, and Winterfell would always be his home. So it was no surprise he was already there waiting for them when they finally made it to Winterfell.

Was this a happy ending to her plight? She wasn't sure, but it was definitely a happy beginning. They had been given a second chance and she was not about to let anyone or anything ruin it. Was it incomplete? Yes, it was. Ned was not coming back and neither was Robb, and there was a very slim chance of finding Arya and Bran. But she would take what she did have and build on from there. She had her House, Winterfell, and it was slowly taking back its former shape and glory, with the town slowly beginning to buzz with activity again. She had Sansa and Rickon. She had Osha who had proved to be wiser than she had first guessed and a great help with Rickon. And she had Jon. Let bygones be bygones. He had never wronged her and she had never wronged him. She had resented his existence for something which was not his fault. And she knew that Jon had despised her all his life for something which was, also, beyond his control. They could start afresh. And they would.

THE END

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Thank you all for reading and following the story. I hope it was what you expected.

Dear guest, sorry, Arya and Bran do not appear ... yet ... But, just like Cat, Sansa, Jon and Rickon, you should keep your hopes up. I'm not going to write a continuation to this story, but that does not mean they do not return. They are out there somewhere and they might find their way back home ;)

Please let me know what you think. I really appreciate your comments.