It's not the lightest second chance for the members of the living, but the story does weave some warmth into their efforts to win the second time.
The Main Fic
- Even as the Others are encroaching upon the heroes' refuge as they prepare a Last Stand and all hope seems lost, it's nice to see the last of the great houses united in making sure they can hold off the Night King's army long enough to buy enough time for Bran and Melisandre to complete the spell.
- Despite the uneven start with Robb attacking Theon, it's sweet to see the Starks reunite as one family once again.
- The Hound's first action after waking up is to kill Joffrey. "Fuck the King. This for the Little Bird".
- Samwell comes into his own with a strength of will, winning his family over with some Remembering.
- The Tullys' campaign against the Freys is a dark time. However, in gutting the house, they make it clear that Fat Walda will be treated as a guest rather than a prisoner after the horrors she endured in the previous timeline.
- The slaves of Pentos unite as one and take the city for their breaker of chains, the woman who brought them hope.
- When she Remembers, Missandei awakens in horror, being back in slavery, and kills her former master. But the first person to greet her at the door? Grey Worm, her former beloved, whose first instinct was to come and find her.
- In Chapter 15, Ned realizes that with the stakes being what they are, decides to swear fealty to Jon and House Targaryen. Jon tells Ned he doesn't need to kneel before him and addresses Ned as "Father" rather than as "Uncle". Even when knowing the truth of his birth, Jon makes it clear that Ned is basically his dad in the ways that count.
- While Brienne is upset that Jamie got away from King's Landing so fast, she nonetheless is glad to find her beloved once again. And even brought Pod along with her to reunite the lannisters with their oddest allies.
- Even after everything and almost dying at her hands, Tyrion is still sad that things ended so badly with him and Shae. Even wanting her gone rather than executed.
- Only aunt Genna seems to fully understand Tyrion's position, and gives him both personal and political advice to that end: this mercy is not a negative, but the next time someone wrongs you, you'll have to bring the hammer. Which Tyrion appreciates.
- The meeting of two queens. Daenerys and Talisa don't quite get off to a good start due to Talisa's very rough ending. But Dany makes it clear that anyone who married Jon's family is her family too, and thus, Talisa is convinced that Dany is genuinely trying to make a better world, and joins up as one of her healers.
- Brynden and Edmure have a talk about what happened in the past and how Edmure accidentally got his uncle killed, with Edmure apologizing for doubting Brynden during the siege of Riverrun.
- Hoster also finally reconciles with Bryden, recognizing he's going to die soon, so it's important for him to pass without regret.
- Catelyn had suffered the most shell shock from all the revelations of what happened around the war and her children, leaving her a mess. However, Arya proposes that they pretend things are the same as before to calm her nerves.
- In time, Sansa ends up joining them by sewing with the Lady Starks and later admits that after all the business of trying to get ready for the war against the White Walkers, getting to spend some mundane family time is nice.
- Even though their betrothal was a necessity based on Samwell Tarly's temporary usurptation, Dickon and Margaery finally find some common ground in remembering how they lost their lives to fire. Using Black Comedy to start building a proper romantic match in this timeline.
- Osha runs to Winterfell as soon as she Remembers in order to be reunited with Rickon. He plainly adores her as a second mother, and everyone in Winterfell immediately accepts her in spite of being a wildling because she cared that much for the boy.
- Greatjon tells Robb that Talisa was a woman willing to get her hands dirty and help the smallfolk and that, in his book, makes her a worthy Queen in the North.
- Jon's reunion with his great-great-great-uncle Aemon. A quiet and happy moment as an old Targaryen finds a new one again.
- Aemon tearfully thanking Ned for rescuing and protecting Rhaegar's child all this time.
- Jon's reunion with Tormund.
The POV side stories
- With the Lannisters essentially just gathering strength for the coming war, Myrcella finds a new avenue to channel herself into: making Brienne look more ladylike to gain the better approval of her family.
- And in the process, make Jamie look starry-eyed.
