Disclaimer: I do not own the actual characters Zhuge Liang or Yue Ying. They belong to Koei games. Li Shen IS a character of my own creation to use in the plot of this particular chapter. Not sure if you'll see her again or not.

Authors Note: First of all, this story, while resembling actual instances I hope, is not totally based on history or the Koei game. This story is basically what happens outside the battlefield with Zhuge and Ying, so there will be little to no battle action. I set this story in partially modern times, so if something seems out of the time period to you, look over it, I did it on purpose.

I have read many fan fictions about Zhuge and Ying, and none of them save one or two have ever had the two of them actually in love. It's usually Zhuge being an ass while Ying suffers. Which is a total load of horseshit if you read the biography stories. If you want to call me a liar, go to this link ?pageprofiles.all read the bio under her name, and try calling me one again after that. Because that biography says pretty much that Ying died very soon after her husband did of grief at the loss of Zhuge, ha!

So I don't want any flames telling me that he was a bastard, I don't want any flames telling me that they didn't belong together or didn't love each other. If you don't like the fact that I made Zhuge a good man and decided to write them happily married, DO NOT read this story, go the hell away and get your kicks elsewhere, because there are PLENTY other people that like to hate Zhuge. If my writing technique is lacking and you have suggestions, by all means, flame in that manner, but I am ignoring anything that questions my motives behind the story or the way I decided to tell things. I like Zhuge and I'm not changing that, so don't even try. Well, on to the story. Enjoy!

Chapter 1

Yue Ying sighed inwardly as she heard the feminine voice at the front of the tent talking to her husband. That particular woman had been trying to weasel her way in as Zhuge's second wife almost the entire three years they had been married. Ying didn't know if she was a maid or one of the harem girls or what, she'd never had any contact with the feminine women that ran around the place. Not because she didn't know how to keep a home.... no, she was exceptionally talented at keeping things organized in a house and cooking and cleaning...she'd proven that. She just much preferred being a warrior. She just wondered how long her husband would resist the woman before he gave in and took on someone more appealing than she herself obviously was to him.

Li Shen had sworn to herself when she started out of her tent this morning that she would convince Master Zhuge she would make a better wife than that ice princess warrior he had already married three years ago. True, Shen hadn't in the ten years since Lord Liu Bei employed her seen any of the maids or harem girls convince Master Zhuge to sleep with them … not for lack of several trying, however. Even before this Yue Ying came along and he married her they tried and didn't get anywhere, but that was no matter to her, she'd dance naked in front of him if it'd get her in bed with the gorgeous man...even if just once. But she would make sure it wasn't just once…. after all, this Yue Ying obviously hadn't been giving the man anything as far as physical attention … once Shen showed him what it was like to be with a real, responsive woman, she was sure he wouldn't want to go back to his strumpet.

"How goes your day, Master Zhuge?", Shen asked as he parted the tent flap to let her pass into the first room, moving as close to him as she dared for now.

"The day goes well considering it has just begun, Lady Li Shen, but what brings you here?" Zhuge asked, knowing where this was going and dreading the outcome.

He'd been avoiding these women for years, and he had already listened to this one innocently enquire as to whether he would ever consider taking on a second wife. He had no such intentions, it was just a matter of convincing this woman of that.

"My days would go much better if I had you to wake up to every morning, if I may be so forward, Master Liang", Shen said as she moved even closer to him. Deciding to be bold, she started tracing a finger down the front of his robes, wondering if he wore anything under them. She'd know soon enough.

Ying almost slammed the armor plate she was repairing down on the table when she heard the innocent statement from the woman. Why, the nerve of the woman! She knew Ying was inside the tent too, and yet here she was, seducing her husband!

But then Ying started thinking about the last three years since she married Zhuge. Never once had he tried to touch her as a husband, never once had they been affectionate with each other. They even slept in the same bed and nothing … maybe he really didn't see her as more than a warrior … maybe the rumors were right and no man could love her. She just wished she knew why he married her … no, she knew, he married her spear and her mind, nothing else.

Zhuge was getting tired of the increasing forwardness of these women. Even if any of them did these things for anything more than sex (and he knew that wasn't it, they just wanted the gossiping rights as his lover), it wouldn't sway him. But this was getting to be too much.

"Don't you think you are being too forward with a married man, Lady Shen? I am, after all, the husband of Yue Ying", he said, knowing his wife could hear what was going on and praying she didn't take it the wrong way.

"Oh no, I don't think so … in fact, I think I haven't been forward enough. Everyone knows you just share the bed with you wife. You haven't been with her physically, as a husband should, the whole time you've been married to her. Why not take on a second woman that could actually please you in that manner instead of suffering while she goes on being the brick of ice she seems to have become since you said your vows?" Shen asked, letting her hand start to venture inside the fold of his robe. "I could please you in ways she'd never conceive with her cold heart." This last was said in a seductive murmur as her fingers brushed the buttons on his undershirt. Damn, there were more clothes under these.

"You are stepping out of line, madam," Zhuge said quietly, gently taking the woman's hand away from his clothes and stepping back away from her, narrowing his gaze slightly so that she knew she'd gone to far. "I have never had an interest in any of you, nor will I ever, especially now. I am where I want and choose to be, and this is where I will stay, and if I need to remind you of who I am and what I'm capable of doing I will. If you value your employment with my Lord's wife, you will not come back here again."

Shen flushed at the threat, knowing very well that Master Liang could see that she was sent elsewhere, places where the pay was much less and the risks from the men were far greater. No, one night in his bed was not worth all of that, as it was clear he preferred his ice princess. "No, Master Liang, you need not remind me … I will be on my way, good day to you," she said as she left the tent, finally accepting defeat.

Zhuge sighed with relief. Maybe the lot of them will leave me in peace to try and salvage my marriage now, he thought to himself.

"That sounded like it went rather well, my husband," Ying said dryly as she moved into that part of the tent. "Why not take her offer? She would do you some good." She didn't know why, but she held her breath while she waited for his answer.

"All she wants is for a man of power to plant himself between her legs so she can tie him to her, Ying. Women like her would try seducing our lord if it weren't treason to do so with him married and not wanting other female companions." He wondered what it would take for him to convince her that she was what he wanted.

"You are not our lord though. You can have whomever you like"

"Except for the one person I want, who, it seems, does not feel the same way," He said, meeting her eyes.

She had beautiful eyes, his wife … so determined and thoughtful in battle, so caring and compassionate when she was helping the doctors tend the wounded after battles. Her eyes were one of the things besides her quiet beauty that drew him to her.

He'd gone to her father's plantation following stories of her astronomical knowledge, hoping to gain her assistance. He'd gained a wife along with her assistance, for he had made a deal with her … she wanted to see battle, so they would be married so that she would be allowed to fight alongside him. In exchange, she would share her knowledge so that they could help their lord on his road to restoring the Han. Zhuge had never factored on falling in love with the woman like he did, as they hadn't known each other prior to the ceremony. But he found that the more he knew about her, the more she shared … the more he wanted her to be his. He just wished she felt the same. But having her there was better than not at all, he figured, and he didn't think he could live with that thought now that he'd gotten to know his wife.

She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Surely he wasn't speaking of her, he'd never made any indication of love for her since they married. But what if he was? She stood there silently; staring back at her husband, trying to figure out what to do next … and she could have speared herself for it when he uttered his next words.

"And, since I'm not being corrected, I will assume my words truth," Zhuge said quietly as he broke his gaze to leave. That was another thing he loved … she wasn't afraid to look him in the eye, and didn't get flushed like most females.

"B-but," she cursed herself for her hesitation, hating that she was afraid of being rejected.

"Yes?" Zhuge asked, half turning back towards her to show he was listening.

"I…" she sighed softly and looked away, embarrassed that she couldn't just talk normally about this subject.

Zhuge smiled slightly, hoping her hesitation meant that there was at least a small measure of feeling in her heart for him. One could hope, couldn't he?

"Its okay, Ying … I must go to meet with our lord before the coming battle tomorrow, we can discuss this after dinner or whenever your more comfortable."

Ying nodded slowly and watched him leave the tent, then went into the other part of their tent and sat heavily on the edge of their bed with another sigh, cursing herself still for not having the guts to say anything to him. If only she could be sure he really cared …

She shook herself out of her contemplation and went back to working on her armor. She shouldn't be thinking of such foolish notions with a battle coming tomorrow.

Please review and let me know what you think so far :)