HAPPINESS NOISES! From how lovely of a reception this fic has received, I have decided to write ASAP. Also, Lion of Avalon favorited my story! How cool is that? The guy who wrote Pursuit of the Dream liked my story, so I must be doing something right (seriously, though, check his story out, it's pretty damn good)! Many thanks to all, now on to the story.

Shirou was not exactly sure when it was he finally fell asleep, nor was he certain how he wound up in his bed, but for all intents and purposes he did not care. She was still here; he was absolutely certain she was. He could feel her arms wrapped around his shoulders, the shape of her collar bone against his temple, her chin atop his head, and those soothing fingers caressing the back of his neck.

It was not a dream…

Arturia still lived, and he had verifiable facts that it was so. She was still with him, and most of all, he had heard the words of assurance and love she had spoken. He had been witnessing that God-forsaken moment again in his dream, when she would disappear in sacrifice, leaving him completely alone in his failure. He couldn't breathe, he couldn't think straight, everything hurt so fucking much, but then her beautiful voice broke through the raging storm that was his nightmare, bringing light, love, and peace to him. That perfect voice, those perfect words, they chased away any and all pain and fear he experienced.

In their stead came peace, and no matter how clichéd it sounded in his head, Shirou had the best damn sleep in his entire life for the rest of that day wrapped in Arturia's embrace. Of course, regardless of his wish to remain in his current situation, he knew something even greater awaited him the moment he decided to fully wake up.

My life with her truly begins now. No threat of war looming over our heads, no enemies plotting our death, no more. It's now just us and the future we choose.

The moment that though appeared in his head, he nuzzled further into her, eliciting a yelp from the woman currently holding him.

So cute…

Chuckling to himself, Shirou could practically see the blush upon the stoic King of Knight's cheeks directly as a result of his actions. A lighthearted grin broke out upon his features as he finally removed his head from the crook of her neck and allowed his eyes to open.

Teal green instantly met golden brown in the fading light of the evening. From his perspective, the increasing dark seemed to make Arturia's flawless light skin glow like the brightest of stars in the night sky, adding an almost tangibly divinity to her angelic appearance.

"Arturia." That was the only word he could manage to say, the name falling off his tongue like a prayer. Though simple, it seemed to convey some unspoken promise within its love filled depths, and like Spring spreading across a wintery landscape, another blush established itself upon the former Saber's face.

Without fully thinking, Shirou's hand rose from its grasp on her hip, sliding up the side of her stomach, chest, shoulder, neck, and finally ceasing its movement at the still reddened cheek. His thumb, gently, oh so gently as if the surface it touched was the purest and most delicate of flower petals, stroked the expanse of blush in an amorously refined pattern, truly embracing the finest silk ever created.

"Shirou," she whispered, her eyes never once leaving his as he continued his little gesture of affection. They stayed liked this for a few moments, simply savoring the innocent, unbreakable intimacy they shared, born from toil and trial and most of all, love. A love neither would forget nor ever fail to show.

And that was just what Shirou decided to do, show it. They had kissed before in their short relationship, the first coming just after the battle with the colossal prick Gilgamesh, and few others sprinkled from there, but none ever truly went beyond just the touch of the lips. There was always the guardedness, the invisible barrier between their kisses; a subconscious thought that screamed that if they went father, the inevitable separation would hurt all the more, if not completely break them.

But now, there was no barrier. There was no separation to threaten them. They were free. They had vowed to be together for the rest of their lives, as well as the rest of eternity in the afterlife.

With as slow a pace as could humanly be created, Shirou brought his face bit by bit closer to Arturia's, to at least offer some decision on her part if she wanted to do this. Her eyes gave him the all the answers he needed. He saw resolve. He saw desire. He saw love. They had wasted enough time, with all the craziness they had to endure. Now was the time to simply enjoy each other.

His lips met her, hesitantly at first, their inexperience showing through the lack of movement, but like a rose amidst the shining sun on cool day, the kiss blossomed. There had always been passion behind their actions, Shirou knew Arturia and he were never ones to do anything halfway, but in this moment, it manifested through the growing movements of their lips. They would break apart, briefly, unfortunately the human body required oxygen, but would then reunite in heavenly synchroneity, until they needed to breath yet again. Though it was sloppy, to say the least, it was theirs. Their moment.

Then there were the hands.

As one would expect with the flagrant lack of knowledge in the realms of romance, Shirou left his hands in their previous positions, one resting on his love's hip, the other still upon her cheek. As his mind slowly clouded with a mixture of lust and love and want, he began to move his hands, contenting himself with running them along the expanse of Arturia's back, navigating the uncharted territory like an explorer in the New World. Regardless of the fabric that separated his fingers from her bare back, he would know every mark on the territory, from the marble smooth plains to the heretical scars of battle. All were a part of her, and he wished to know them all.

Arturia on the other hand, favored simplicity over daring, letting her arms wrap around his neck and her hands unravel the chaotic locks of his hair. Shirou loved every moment of it; it was like a massage, though hectic, it all the same communicated the pure desire to his brain in the quickest of relays, lightening quick and beautifully soft.

However, simplicity hardly lasts in moments of passion. It wasn't long before those same hands, which had mellowed in their caresses, began to travel lower, leaving trails of electricity in their wake, and drawing a magnificent blank in the man's mind. Within seconds, they were at the hem of his shirt, teasing the small gap of skin his clothes were currently failing to cover.

The shirt was gone in seconds.

It's happening…She's…We're…

Shirou's mind, which had been blank mere moments ago, was now a jumbled mess of insecurity and the fear that comes from being on the border of love making. He was not a hesitant man, not in the least; in times of danger, he wasted no time in offering his life to fate as a way of saving his friends, but now, upon the precipice of the most romantic, loving gesture known to man, he faltered.

What if I'm no good? What if I'm too greedy? God forbid, what if I hurt her?

These were the questions that raced within his mind like bees on speed. Could he do this? Yes, he could, very much was able. Did he want to? Of course. He loved her more than life itself, he wanted her in all senses possible. Was he ready?

I've waited too damn long.

And with that his fears disappeared in his mind, turning to nothing. They would be one, united in mind, body, and soul. They would make love. They would…

Shirou's train of thought was completely derailed when he heard the rumblings of a stomach. His face instantly turned red when he realized it was not Arturia's and was in fact his body announcing its need for sustenance.

Dammit.

===Love that Defies Fate===

When Arturia heard the stomach rumbling, she immediately assumed it was her own. Afterall, her love of food was no real secret, having in the time she spent with Shirou acquired an addiction to his cooking. However, having been asleep for a while, not to mention being awake massaging her love's neck and now their intimate…thing, she was certain it was her who shattered the mood.

Then she saw his reddened face and the embarrassment dancing across his eyes as he looked down at his hands. From that sheer sight alone, Arturia could do nothing to stop the giggle that escaped her, making her lover turn all the more red.

"Sorry," he muttered quietly, still not holding her gaze. She could tell his embarrassment knew no bounds at the current moment.

"No need to be embarrassed, my love," her hand placed itself back in his, "these things…happen. Besides, there is always later."

Shirou nodded at her assurances, the red gradually fading from his cheeks.

"I'll…um…go make something to eat…you want anything?"

"Yes!" the king of knights said all too fast for her liking, almost sounding borderline desperate for his fine culinary art.

She immediately reddened in turn.

Calm yourself. The current situation is very much more about him than it is you. He hasn't slept or eaten in a while since…the grail incident.

"I mean…only if you're okay with that. I don't want to be any trouble."

It was Shirou's turn to smirk, undoubtedly at own expense.

"Of course. You could never be trouble, Turia."

The blush on her face deepened."

"T-Turia?"

"It's a…nickname. I can't call you Saber anymore, so…" he grew quiet at the end, the words trailing off. "do you like it?"

She nodded hastily.

I absolutely love it.

"Well then, Turia, would you like to accompany me to our kitchen for a marvelous dinner to commemorate our success," his tone immediately shifted from shy to confident, taking on that of a certain Knight of the Round Table, and Arturia could not help but snort as memories long since forgotten resurfaced.

Lancelot…Always had a way with words, didn't you? Now wonder women always flocked to you, old friend.

"Very well, I shall acquiesce to your request," she gave her own flowery response, finishing off the statement with a deep curtsey in her now messy dress. With a quick straightening of her disheveled clothes, she quickly joined his side, entangling her hand with his, and nodding to thus approve their migration to the kitchen.

"As my king commands."

===Love that Defies Fate===

Shirou, for probably the first time in his life, couldn't help but feel a profound sense of completion. He had made dinner, simple yet with all the flare and talent of a professional chef, enjoyed a wonderful dinner, filled with talking, kissing, and much handholding/cuddling when they decided to watch a movie, and now, in their officially labelled shared bed, his mind was at peace, blissful, peace. In the short amount of time since waking up during the evening, he had felt nothing but happiness, even in the more awkward moments, and Shirou couldn't be more thankful to God for what he had given him.

Yes, Arturia had told him her tale of meeting God, and if Shirou ever needed a reason to find religion, he had one now. The fact that a literal deity, whom he had never really had a decent relationship with in his whole life, granted him a chance at happiness was mind boggling and beyond humbling.

Note to self, thank God, literally.

And thank him he would, his current situation was more than enough of a necessary reason for praise, for within his wrapped arms lay the love of his life, sleeping gently in nothing more than one of his shirts. Her body was more relaxed than he had ever truly seen, gone was the ramrod stiffness, and in its place was a mellow extension of perfection. Her arms manifested themselves upon around his own, whilst her head used his chest as a pillow. Her legs, lastly, as a completion to the wholesome scene he experienced, secured themselves around one of his own, knotting themselves on for dear life and refusing to let go.

Serendipity. That was what he was experiencing right now. Serendipity.

And he loved every damn second of it.

Tomorrow, and every day after, will be just as great as the last hours of today. She'll be there, and that is all I need.

With a casual, stealthy shift of his head, Shirou looked down at the sleeping beauty with him, smiling fondly as he saw her head nuzzle into him as if he were an oversized teddy bear.

You are my everything.

You are my world.

You are my life.

Finito. Another one done. Literally wrote this listening to Dave Matthew's Two Step from the Live at Luther College album on repeat. Nothing like a great love song to write a lovely scene, eh? Anywho, hope y'all enjoyed, I'm pretty floored by the positive response this has got in one whole day since it was published, currently 31 favorites and 38 followers and 5 reviews. By my standards, this is just complete success, so many thanks to all who read, and until next time. See ya.