Welp. Hi. After finally finishing Fate/Stay Night, crying for a solid hour after Saber and Shirou departed, reading the fanfictions, battling the depresso espresso, I finally decided to try my hand at this. First and foremost, I have next to no idea how long this will be, but I wanted to give myself some happiness and see if I can a. reawaken my love of writing, b. fill the gaping hole in my chest (courtesy of Fate) with some wonderful, gratuitous fanfiction schpeel, and c. actually write something good for once. Here's to whatever the hell this is, may it prove enjoyable.

Love that Defies Fate

He felt it. Utter, bone crushing despair as he witnessed the love of his life destroy the Holy Grail. His final order as her master, though he knew there was no other choice, stung worse than any blade could ever hope to. The great flash of light didn't even register, nor did the pain of being flung like a ragdoll into the air; Shirou Emiya's mind and heart were broken.

She was gone.

Though he had yet to open his eyes, he knew he would not see her. She had done her duty. Her contract was finished, and his heart was shattered.

Lying on the ground, clutching his legs to his chest, Shirou cried. He let the tears run like rivers as his mind processed what had just happened.

Arturia. Saber. Love.

He could see her in his mind, wheat-gold locks tied in an intricate bun that screamed royalty, teal pools as alluring as any gem, a voice that could be as soft as a silver bell in the night yet as commanding as a Cathedral's on Sunday, and lastly, the purest beauty one could imagine.

All gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gonegonegonegonegonegonegonegonegone.

Shirou…I love you

His tears continued. Everything hurt, and as if to add insult to injury, her sacrifice could not be avoided. It was fate. Cruel, conniving fate. A fate that had made her suffer as king and now a fate that made him suffer. He couldn't take it, he didn't want to endure it. All Shirou wanted in that moment was to hear her voice again, feel her hand in his; suddenly wake and realize this was just one very elaborate, kick to the teeth nightmare.

Fate was a cruel bitch.

But there was some hope for him. Finding some resolve being crushed under the wight of his despair, he vowed he would be with her again. As the almighty God as his witness, he would join her in Avalon no matter what. Fate could rot in hell, Shirou Emiya was going to see her again. She would wait, he knew it, and he would pursue, he knew that too. It would take forever, a literal eternity, but he would do it. Why?

Because she was worth it.

He loved Arturia Pendragon with everything he had, his heart and soul and all the in betweens.

She gave him so much, showing a beautiful, love filled world where he could be happy. Where all his issues, depressions, and self-loathing could be lifted from his soul.

All that had been ripped away in an instent.

She was gone.

One day, though… he would reach her.

During school, he once read the Great Gatsby as was the requirement of the curriculum, and like a sudden stroke of inspiration, the books ending remarks dawned on him.

Gatsby believed in the green light, that orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms further…and one fine morning…

She would be his green light.

One day he would finally find her in Avalon, and they would be together for the rest of eternity. That was his vow. That was his will. That was his destiny, not this fate crap he was having to endure. It would hurt. Shirou had no doubt of that, but that was beside the point. As long as he would see her again, feel her lips upon his again, be beside her again, he did not care what he faced or would have to endure.

One day… One day Arturia, my love…One day.

Picking himself up off the floor, and still very much hurting, he found the will to begin his journey. With a sigh and a heavy yet determined heart, Shirou opened his eyes for the first time since Arturia's sacrifice. What awaited him was much more than he could have ever hoped for, for directly in front of him lay his love, unconscious, breathing, and very much alive.

She wasn't gone.

She had stayed.

Somehow, some way, she was there, and he couldn't care less about how she managed to do so. Arturia was here, and that was all that mattered.

Reeling from shock and pure elation, Shirou immediately bent down to her, lightly tapping her forehead just to ensure she was actually there.

His finger met silky smooth skin.

She's here. This is actually real. How is this real?

His lips trembled. Insecurity and doubt crept into his conscience like the hand of death as he was unable to understand how any of this was possible.

She's alive, for sure?...Well, we can see she's breathing, but how do we know that for sure? Could be a trick, right?

Hastily ripping off her armor chest-plate, Shirou placed his ear directly over he chest, praying his senses would not be deceived.

Ba-dump

Ba-dump.

Ba-dump.

Still shaking, the smallest, most relieved of smiles etched itself onto his face. She was alive by some miracle, and his pain had all but vanished in mere seconds. He had a chance at happiness. He had a chance at a long, fulfilling love. He had Arturia, and he would never let her go. That was his new vow. His new destiny. His new fate.

===Love that Defies Fate===

Arturia Pendragon, King of Knights, Hero of the Britons, and lover of Shirou Emiya stood still as a stone, taking in the strange domain which surrounded her. White, pure white surrounded her on all sides, stretching as far as the eye could see. After mere moments of processing all this, the guilt and confusion hit her.

Guilt because she had left Shirou. She knew she had no choice, but it still hurt knowing that she had caused him pain with her sacrifice.

Confusion because she expected she would be back in her time, not some white expanse which befuddled her to no end.

"Hello?" she called out hesitantly, wary of her singularly colored surroundings. Just because she could not detect any danger, did not mean she would let her guard down. After years of being trained to act as a man, and subsequently a knight, by Sir Ector and Merlin, not to mention her rough years as king and the campaign against the Saxons, surveillance and constant vigilance were practically engrained into her very being. She liked to think that was one of the reasons behind her mostly emotionless exterior towards all, save for Shirou and a very select few.

"Well, it appears we meet at long last, child. I must say, it is a pleasure to finally have you in my presence," a voice as deep as the deepest baritone could be sounded within the expanse of blankness.

Arturia immediately prepared for battle, her hand reaching for her sword, only to find nothing but an empty scabbard. Excalibur was gone. Maintaining a bold front, she silently cursed as her main means of combat was stolen from her.

"Have no fear, child. I mean you no harm."

Her battle stance remained.

"Where am I?" her response was terse and clipped. Her calm exterior expertly masked the interior conflict between fear and her courage.

"You, dear child, are nowhere. You are currently within a realm between realms."

Arturia had no response.

Am I stuck? No, I can't be! I…

"Fear not, you shall be returned to your Shirou soon enough, should that be your choice."

Her exterior broke.

I can be with Shirou… How?

"How?" she vocalized her thoughts, barely above a whisper.

"There is a very long, complex answer behind that, child, but you could say it's because I am God, and I decide what I want to do."

Words failed her.

Did I just meet God?

"You need not ask the questions on your mind. Yes, I am God, and the reason I wish to help you is because I feel fate has made a truly grievous error in regard to your situation. Sometimes dreams deserve to be reality."

Again, she could not speak. How could one possibly fathom meeting God and hearing he wished to grant you your greatest wish?

Wait, wish? Could this be the grail?

"I am rather offended you would compare me to that sewer trash, but I shall let that slide in favor of getting you out of here sooner, rather than later, child."

"Did you just read my thoughts?"

"Do I really have to answer that question, child? I am God, infinite powers, and our time is nearly up. Your fairy tale end awaits you. After all you have endured, I would believe you would want to be with your beloved as soon as was possible?"

"Yes," she said, finding her voice again and answering without hesitation.

"Then we have spoken enough. However, I have but one thing to say before you leave."

She nodded, doing her complete best to not squeal in delight as the future she had come to hope for in the past weeks was now within her reach.

"Do not wallow in your failures, but rather focus on all you have achieved. All you have gained. All that you have been blessed with."

Arturia nodded, somewhat hesitantly, uncertain of exactly how to respond to that statement. Inevitably, it was because she knew God spoke the truth, and she regarded her rule as a king as a disaster, riddled with failure, strife, and cataclysm, all of which, in one way or another, led to her death at the hands of her own child, Mordred.

"Well, then, I see no reason to delay your departure, farewell, child. May your future be bright, and our paths not cross for a long time."

As soon as the words of God finished, a bright flash of golden light flooded the white expanse, dancing around Arturia in seamless patterns and branches before finally embracing her. Everything turned to black the moment a single tendril whispered across her chest, reaching her heart.

===Love that Defies Fate===

Shirou had barely slept in the past two days. Maybe it was due to the fact he had yet to completely accept the fact that Arturia really was alive with him after the incident with the Holy Grail. Maybe it was because he was almost certain that if he closed his eyes, she would disappear, leaving him alone again. He knew he would not be able to handle that possibility after she came back.

Things were decent for the time being. The Fifth Holy Grail War had come to a close, he was alive, so were his friends, who had taken it upon themselves to check up on him, to ensure he hadn't been injured or mentally broken, but he was still reeling from the shock of almost losing his love.

It still hurt to even think about, but he quickly pushed those thoughts aside in favor of maintaining his vigilance over Arturia's resting edifice. In a strange way, it was rather calming, witnessing the rise and fall her chest and the tranquility that flowed from her like the purest magic.

Up, down.

Up, down.

Up, down.

Joyful oblivion. Complete calmness.

Of course, for the past days, her calmness was what partly sustained his sleeplessness, the other portion being largely due to a strange mix of paranoia, coffee, insecurity, and a couple of sports drinks. His body was in dire need of rest, but his mind had other plans, despite its own raggedness.

Regardless of the human will, the body in all its facets, can only stay awake for so long before exertion finally takes its toll, and with his almost complete lack of rest, his resolve to maintain consciousness slowly crumbled.

She won't go anywhere…She'll still be here…I may doubt myself, but…I should never doubt her…

And with that in mind, sleep overtook Shirou Emiya, a long, rejuvenating repose that he was hopeless in defeating. It felt nice, very nice, and what he woke up to the following day was well worth the wait.

===Love that Defies Fate===

They very first thing Arturia became aware of after her talk with God was the hazy, mellow gold light flooding her vision and coating the world around it in its fond embrace. Though her vision had yet to fully focus, she could roughly make out a window directly to the left and a nightstand situated just adjacent to it, holding up a lamp and alarm clock upon it, no more than mere shapes in her peripheral vision.

The second thing she noticed was the all too familiar face lying asleep beside her. Shirou's head and arms were draped on the bed, whilst the rest of his body rested in a chair next to the bed. His unkempt auburn hair was more chaotic than usual, and if the bags under his eyes were any indicator, Arturia knew he hadn't slept in a while.

All because of me…No matter. We're here now. He's safe, I'm safe, and that's all that matters.

Allowing a small smile to grace her flawless face, the former Saber removed her hand from his, favoring to wrap them around his slumped shoulders, and bring him closer in embrace. She was his servant once but was now free from those bonds and could be so much more to him. Thus, as her first act in her new post-servitude world, Arturia decided to drag him onto the bed for a more "comfortable" arrangement.

In no time, Shirou was tightly wrapped in her arms, his head resting just in the crook of her neck and his legs entangled with hers. As if by instinct, his hands had found their way to her waist, bringing the two all the more closer.

Like two halves finally connecting.

Her face reddened from such thoughts. Before she had met him, Arturia would never have entertained such thoughts, she was a king after all, masquerading as a man, and duty bound to her kingdom. She had had no time nor the actual ability to indulge in romance (the false marriage to Guinevere was proof enough), but now, with Shirou, such ideas were the only ones occupying her mind.

Once he wakes up…You shall be mine, and I shall be yours, in mind, body and soul.

That is my vow.

She felt him stir, momentarily. His head jerked slightly against her and his grip tightened. His brow furrowed and his body began to shake. She could hear the lightest of sounds escape his lips, and though she could not understand what was said, she knew it could not be good.

"Have no fear, my love. I am here with you, and I will never leave not in this life or the next." Her hand caressed the back of his neck in featherlight patterns, hoping to ease away his nightmare with her touch. Like magic, his grip lessened, and the shaking stopped. His body relaxed and a smile graced his lips, as bright as the sun and as peaceful as a lake on a summer morn.

"I love you Shirou. Always will for all of eternity. On my honor as a knight, I shall be by your side in all your endeavors, for that is the extent of my love."

Shirou's head burrowed deeper into her loving embrace the moment the words left her lips. Arturia liked to believe he heard her for the moment his head finished nestling in her bosom, he said the four simplest of words that made her heart soar.

"I love you, Arturia."

It was the first time he addressed her with her name. It felt perfect, simply perfect, and Arturia Pendragon would not trade it for anything else in the world.

And we have a wrap. God damn, I loved writing this. Favorite pairing in all of anime, nice romantic romance, a wee bit of angst, and an eternity of fluffy, (maybe even a bit steamy) goodness left for me to write. Thanks for reading peoples, see you in the next update.

Arturia X Shirou for life.