Chapter Text
All men are children, and of one family. The same tale sends them all to bed, and wakes them in the morning.
- Henry David Thoreau
“This is a bad idea. What the hell was Ned thinking...”
Mya smiled softly as she pulled out the old pamphlets from the revolving stand. “Robert, I think it's a great idea.”
The man on the other end of the line was silent for a moment, digesting what she had just said, before grunting, “You think so?”
She laughed as she threw out the old batch and hauled a bound stack of shiny new pamphlets from the cardboard box. “I wouldn't say it if I didn't. Look, I'm glad you called me. I don't mind setting it up. Invite the Starks; we can mask the event as a joint family outing. That way your intentions won't be so blatant.”
Robert cleared his throat before grunting his agreement. “Well... in that case, I'll leave it up to you then. Oh! And Mya, Cersei's being a bitc-”
“Robert, I'm sure Mrs. Baratheon wouldn't be so difficult if you would stop calling her such things.” Mya said testily. Just because Cersei Baratheon was the most vile and irritating woman Mya had ever met did not mean that they couldn't be civil. Mya would not stoop to her level (if she could help it).
Robert grumbled before amending his words, “Fine. Cersei has been nagging me that I shouldn’t be “playing favorites”- her words, not mine!- so, I'm sending Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tommen with you as well.”
Mya swallowed thickly, counting off how many people in the group it would be in her head, and then softly whistled, “Wow... that's... that's a lot of kids that I'll be responsible for.”
“Well, Ned's three oldest will be there; they can take care of themselves. And you and... what's her name again? Fuck, I wrote it down here somewhere...” There was shuffling on the other end.
“Bella, your second oldest is named Bella.” Mya said gently. She never really knew what Robert really thought of his... illegitimate children. For the most part, she often pitied the man; he use to be so happy and full of life, but once things really started to settle down for him and his business was booming, it seemed as though the fight in him had faded and, now, all he was was an angry shell of the man he use to be.
And the media fed off of that negative energy. They started poking their heads around into Robert Baratheon’s life and, subsequently, the lives of his family.... his entire family. Being CEO of the biggest security company in the entire country, Baratheon Security, garnered enough tabloid attention. Especially since, one, Baratheon Security was installed in over 45% of all the homes across the country, and two, the face of the company was a philandering playboy with a string of broken hearts and an orphanage of bastard children.
Not exactly the kind of image a security company wanted to promote.
So, Eddard Stark - “Ned”, as her father liked to call him- , Robert's chief consultant and right-hand man, suggested that Robert should perhaps show a more family oriented side to him. This was the first of “five stages of integrating” Robert's other children into the fold of his family.
“Right! Bella! She could help you.”
Mya smiled fondly at the image her mind conjured up of the first time Mya met her half-sister. “Bella is a bit of a... free spirit. But, yes, I'm sure that she will be great help.”
“Good! So, you and Bella and... and... Garrett!”
“Gendry.” She tried to mask her mirth at the story that Bella told her about the first time that the busty call girl met Gendry.
“Right... Gendry. You're all old enough to look after Edric and the... others.” His voice was exasperated as Mya smiled at his effort. He was really trying, and that endeared Mya.
“Yes, that's true. I'm sure we'll manage. Thank you for your concern, Robert.”
Mya heard Robert heave a great sigh on the other end of the line. “Mya... I know that it's been hard for you to grow up without me being there... so... I just want you to know... I don't know...”
Mya sank into her seat at her desk and saw the picture of her mother at her high school graduation and her next to a picture of a much younger Robert Baratheon tossing her as an infant into the air. Those days were long gone, but that didn't mean the memory was tainted or altered. Mya knew that she didn't exactly have a “normal” childhood, but she’d had more than Bella or Gendry or the Twins (who she had never met) or even Edric. And for that, she felt truly fortunate.
Mya's eyes began to mist over as her emotions threatened to take over. She tried to keep her voice as steady as she could before choking out, “Don't worry about it. I know.”
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As Robert had promised, his three kids were waiting when she and Bella pulled up in front of the house in rented minivan. She’d figured they could all use the extra space. Gendry and Ned were meeting them there, along with their half-cousin Shireen. The Twins would be coming separately also. Mya fervently hoped the park wouldn’t explode today.
Joffrey’s face was twisted in a cruel smirk, as per usual. The boy never truly smiled; Mya swore she’d only ever seen him smirk or frown. He was an incredibly unhappy little thing, and more than anything, Mya felt sorry for him. Seeing how he teased his siblings, though, the pity often faded quickly, replaced by frustration or anger that one person could be so troublesome.
Myrcella was a sweet thing, as was Tommen. Quite unlike their oldest brother, these two were quiet but kind and thoughtful in their own right. Myrcella in particular was shaping up to be a wonderful young lady.
Mya introduced Bella to the three kids, once again thankful that her half-sister had decided to ride with her today. God knew she needed all the help she could get. Bella’s easy charm and amiable personality won over Cella and Tommen quickly. Joffrey sat sullenly in the back, staring out the window with yet another frown - but then, what was new, Mya wondered.
When silence invaded the car for longer than a few minutes, she turned the radio up, hoping music would help calm her as it always did. Instead, what she got was yet another jockey talking about the latest Baratheon tabloid news.
“The latest in a string of questionable moves by the company’s CEO has left me wondering, what exactly is Robert Baratheon trying to prove-”
The voice was cut off by Bella turning off the stereo, and an uncomfortable silence settled over everyone in the car. Mya winced at the timing.
“This is bullshit,” Joffrey muttered.
“Hey! Watch your language,” Mya said severely, glaring into her rearview mirror for as long as she dared before returning her eyes to the road ahead.
“It’s true,” he replied. “Dad doesn’t care about us. All he cares about his his bloody image.”
“Joffrey!” Mya hated raising her voice, but with him it nearly always happened. “If you do not tame your tongue you will be walking to the park, I guarantee it.”
Stopped at a red light, they had a staring contest before a car honked behind them, and Mya began driving again. This time, the quiet that descended over the car stuck with them until they reached the park. Climbing out, Mya thanked every god that it was at least good weather - for now. There was no telling what kind of storm would come to pass once the Baratheon siblings came together.
Between her and Bella, they herded the kids towards the park entrance. As they got nearer, she could see a broad, dark-haired form leaning against the fence. Mya did her best to keep the shock from her face, but dear god in heaven there was no doubt this was Gendry. He was the spitting image of a young Robert - though Mya doubted he knew that. The boy took a last drag of his cigarette before breathing heavily and dropping it on the ground, stubbing it with the heel of his sneaker in a familiar gesture.
Pushing aside the urge to scold him for smoking, she instead held out a hand as soon as they were close enough. “Hello. You must be Gendry.”
He had enough practice at hiding his emotions that Mya barely saw the surprise flash in his eyes before it was gone. A strong hand gripped hers. “Hello,” came his deep voice. When he turned to greet the others, Mya stifled a laugh as his ears became bright red upon seeing Bella.
“Hi Gendry,” Bella grinned wickedly and he swallowed, nodding in reply.
Curiously, his gaze softened slightly as he reached out to ruffle Tommen’s hair and smile truly -albeit briefly - at Cella. It endeared Mya to him instantly.
Then he turned a somber gaze on Joffrey, clasping his hand briefly before letting go. Mya noted the outrage on Joffrey’s face and forced herself to take deep breaths. Then someone yelled behind him and he moved aside to reveal Edric and Shireen approaching them. Edric said hello to everyone, even Joff, in his friendly way, seemingly oblivious to the tension in the group. Shireen quietly waved as well, though Mya saw her inch closer to Gendry nonetheless.
This would be a very long day.
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Kids, young and old, pulled out their bags and revealed to the park staff all the food they had smuggled into the park, knowing full well that they would never come out to the designated picnic area outside of the park to eat said food. And Mya couldn’t blame them as she watched Bella happily munch on an apple she had just pulled from her bag.
Mya took a few calming breaths as her party slowly shuffled through the bag check line. She felt bad for happily thanking the gods that Joffrey wasn’t carrying more than his fancy cellular phone and a thick wallet. She could hardly imagine what this day would turn out like had he brought a backpack filled with drugs to sell to the small children in Pez Capsules. Just for shits and giggles, he might have even sold some to the staff. Having been to “the happiest place on Earth” multiple times, she had seen her share of Disney security and would not wish that on anyone. Not only would it be the single most embarrassing thing to ever experience, but they would also most likely be banned from the park for the next two lifetimes. And if the media got a hold of that juicy of a story... Mya felt a migraine coming on when a voice pulled her from the fog of “what-if”s.
“Hey, Mya? Is that the Stark bunch?” Bella inquired as she pointed to a large group of similarly looking youngsters who were standing in front of the large Disneyland banner, taking pictures.
Mya, recognizing Sansa’s bright auburn hair immediately, waved to the oldest Stark daughter and tried to call out to her over the sea of people. Deciding to make her way over there, Mya turned around and saw that the Baratheon bunch plus Gendry and Bella had made it through the checkpoint unscathed and had all gathered around. She smiled at the uniformity and motioned for them to follow her closely, as she wove through the crowd to make it to the Stark pack before they decided to disappear amongst the masses.
Coming up quietly behind Sansa, Mya abruptly slammed her hands onto the younger girl’s shoulders, successfully startling her. Sansa whipped around, her pretty face twisted in a glare before she recognized her attacker. “Mya! Good grief, you scared the living lights out of me!”
Mya smiled brightly before she pulled her friend into a warm hug. “We just got here. Were you guys waiting long?”
“Nope. We just got here too.” She politely smiled at the group behind Mya’s shoulder. Sansa demurely waved to Myrcella who had come to stand next to her before she tuned back to Mya but stopped when something over the older girl's shoulder caught her eye. Mya couldn’t help but pick up on the tense look that passed over Sansa’s features as she no doubt caught sight of Joffrey, who hung back, texting away on his smartphone. The pretty Stark girl visibly relaxed as Myrcella linked her arm with her friend and whispered something into her ear that left them both giggling quietly.
Mya surveyed the other Starks and sucked in another cleansing breath as she took in the sheer number of their growing band.
“So... introductions, then?” Mya suggested.
Sansa broke into a smile before she politely turned to the group and said, “Oh! Yes. Uhm, this is Robb. That’s Jon. That’s Arya. That’s Bran and next to him is Rickon. Oh, and I’m Sansa.”
Mya smiled as each member of the Stark family was introduced, before taking the metaphoric baton and turning to introduce Gendry, Bella, Edric, Myrcella, Tommen, Joffrey, and, lastly, herself.
“Right. Good. So, should we get going?” The oldest Stark asked, jabbing his thumb towards the ticket booths. Despite being Bella’s age, his Tully blue eyes were shining brightly with anticipation.
“Well, we’re waiting for three more. They should be here any minute now-” Just then, Mya’s phone vibrated. “Hey, Helena? Are you girls here yet?”
A sweet voice filtered in from the other end, followed by a high pitched squeal that could only be Barra, Mya’s youngest half sibling. “Yes we are. Are you that large group standing by the welcome sign?”
Mya smiled as she looked around to see if she could spot a pair of twins and a bouncing 7 year old. Just as she was about to answer, Gendry tapped her shoulder and pointed towards two identical girls in bright salmon colored sundresses, each of them holding one hand of a very pretty little girl with dark hair and sparkling blue eyes, giggling their way towards the larger group.
Mya hung up the phone and threw a smile over her shoulder at the eldest Stark brother, “Yes, Robb, we are now ready to go.”