Artoria had very few regrets in life. When asked, the few that immediately sprang to mind was the fall of her kingdom and the death. But there was one she always held the closest to her chest. Her greatest failing and the catalyst for the destruction of Camelot.

Her son, Mordred. So often ignored and mistreated by her in her attempt to become the perfect king. And what did it bring her in the end? A broken kingdom, the death of her knights, and the loss of her child.

Perhaps if Artoria was never king then even Mordred could have a happy ending.

This was her greatest regret, her biggest sin, and one she had thought she would have to bear for eternity.

Funny how fate often seems to have different plans.

=/=

"I'm bored of this already. Come, Berserker."

Artoria's grip on her weapon tightened. Despite her heavy heart. Illyasviel was now an enemy of her master and she could no longer treat her like the child she once was.

Shirou would not kill a defenseless girl which meant there was only one path open to her if she wanted to save Ilyasviel. She would have to kill Berserker.

However, the Servant of Madness would not be an easy foe for all though they had lost their mind, they were granted ludicrous strength in return. Artoria steeled her mind and prepared herself to win. No matter who her opponent was she had to win the Holy Grail. To right all of the numerous wrongs in her life.

When Berserker appeared, the very first thing Artoria noticed was that Berserker had blonde hair and green eyes. Hauntingly familiar green eyes and blonde hair...the very same shade as her own.

"Well, daddy dearest… did you miss me?"

"M-Mordred?"

Eek! He said my name for the third time! Am I looking presentable? I've already got on this outfit specifically designed to get his attention, of course I'm presentable!"

Her son as alive. He might be one an enemy now but that didn't change the fact that her son, Mordred was alive. Alive and wearing something that the grail not so helpfully informed her was called a bikini. Oh god, that showed off way too much skin and Mordred was even posing for her. It seemed she really needed this new-fangled invention the modern humans called "Brain Bleach"

"Ah Saber, you have a son?"

Oh right, her master. All her attention was on Mordred and she had forgotten that this was still a grail war and the fact that Mordred was still her enemy. Speaking of Mordred, his green eyes, oh so very similar to her own bled into glowing red as he glared at her Master.

"You dare refer to King Arthur in such a casual manner? I'll have your head for that you goddamn bastard!"

In the blink of an eye, Mordred had already drawn his blade and charged Shirou. Artoria dashed after her wayward son who was intent on killing her master. ...it would be so easy to cut down Mordred right this instant. He was filled with so many glaring openings in his desperate attempt to kill Shirou for his "slight" against herself. With that in mind, Artoria swung with all her might.

A loud clang reverberated through the night as two blades met. It seemed the strength of a Berserker really was a fearsome thing. It had taken all of her strength just to block that one strike and even now she was slowly being pushed back.

"Mordred… stop this."

Red eyes glared into her own and Artoria couldn't help but feel they looked so… wrong on her son's face.

"And why the hell should I? The only time you ever take even the slightest bit of note at my existence is whenever we're fighting. You've only called me by name four times father, once when I was born, once because you were feeling sentimental or some shit like that and twice because we were fighting. So I'll ask again father, why the hell should I?"

"I'm sorry Mordred, for ignoring you, for never once acknowledging you, but please, I do not want to fight my family anymore."

Mordred's eye met Artoria's and after a brief moment, Mordred let out a harsh a bitter laugh.

"You're not sorry for a goddamn thing. The only reason you're even apologizing right now is that your precious fucking Camelot fell. Nineteen goddamn years without a word but the moment we start fighting, now I'm 'Mordred' to you. So tell me, father, why the hell should I stop fighting you if it's the only goddamn way you'll ever notice my existence?"

Artoria stared into Mordred's... no her son's eyes, burning red and filled with the agony of being abandoned and came to a decision.

"I wish for the Holy Grail to undo my mistakes. To make sure that the disastrous reign of King Arthur never occurred. However, I will fight my family no longer. I have wronged you greatly Mordred and that is why I will not stop you from taking your pound of flesh."

With her piece said, Artoria sheathed her blade and closed her eyes, prepared for her fate. The sound of Mordred drawing closer and closer reached her ears and despite all of her instincts screaming for her to move, Artoria stayed her hand. It was only a fitting punishment for a failure like her.

After a few moments, the impact came but something felt off. It didn't feel like the cold edge of a blade it felt more like... arms? In shock, Artoria's eyes burst open only to find Mordred's arms hugging her and crying into her chest.

"You called me your son and then expect me to kill you. Father really can be an idiot sometimes"

Unsure of what to do, Artoria wrapped her arms around Mordred and held him close. Mordred just cried harder and Artoria stood there, unsure of what to do. She tried pulling away but Mordred refused to let go so Artoria stood there, back ramrod straight and running her hands through Mordred's hair.

"...can we really be a family dad?"

It came out as a hoarse whisper but Artoria felt it with all of the force of a lightning strike.

"I swear it, on my honor, my kingdom and on behalf of everyone who swore loyalty to King Arthur, that I really think we can be a family."

The two of them stood like that for a while, a son desperate for his father's attention and a "father" unsure of how to deal with being a parent. It wasn't the most comfortable or familiar position to be in but somehow, watching those eyes oh so very similar to her own shine with unseen joy, Artoria couldn't help but feel like it was somehow perfect. Well... almost perfect.

"Mordred... you should stop wearing this piece of clothing called a bikini... it's indecent and shows off far too much skin."

A little mischievous smile came onto Mordred's face at her father's request.

"Hmmm... I think I might wear this for the entire grail war. After all, it did its job and got daddy's attention after all."

"Mordred! What are you doing?! Why are you placing your hands there? That isn't how you give some a hug! Hands higher! No, not there!"

"Why father? Aren't you curious to try out this "Yaoi" thing that the grail tells me the Japanese are so fond of?"

"MORDRED?!"

=/=

I'll admit, I didn't really know too much about Mordred's personality so I sort of decided to wing it with having her have a Madness enhancement tied to an obsession with Artoria. Either way, I hope you enjoyed it!