"Britannia Promise"

Prologue

"UNEXPECTED LOST"

~0~

"Okay!" I said cheerfully as I tied a small piece of cloth to a stick and placed it next to the vase. I clasped my hands and smiled, satisfied with what I've done. "Now all I need is some flowers!" I smiled and looked at my toy bunny. I was at my own tree house built by daddy and my big brothers years ago just for my games. Its just at the back of our house and just below it are the flowers mommy and I grew.

"Arthur! Come down now! Lunch is ready!" I heard Daddy say as he walked towards the tree.

"I'm coming Daddy!" I quickly grabbed flying mint bunny and ran to the stairs of my tree house.

Hi! I'm Arthur Kirkland! I'm only daughter in the household. Hehehe… funny right? My name is Arthur yet I'm a girl. Well you see mommy and daddy were expecting a boy since almost all my elder siblings are boys. So by the time I was born they were really shocked and decided to just go along with the name that they chose previously which is Arthur. But honestly, I like my name since this is the first gift mommy and daddy gave to me. I'm currently six years old and living at Washington DC. I have long blond hair tied in pigtails, green eyes and bushy eyebrows. ( I'm proud of them!)

I rushed forward to daddy and he carried me to the house with a smile.

"Not again~!" I heard big brother Scott complain all the way to the dining room.

"Hush, Scott," Mommy said as she spoon feed baby Peter.

"But mum! Why is it that we always have chicken curry today?!" Big brother crossed his arms as daddy placed me to my seat.

"Can't we have something else?" Aiden complained as he stood up from his seat.

"No," daddy said firmly. "You, young man are going to endure eating that until your mother buys groceries."Brother Scott and Aiden groaned as Gavin and I ate silently. I wonder why big brother doesn't like curry that much? It's delicious after all.

"Dad~!" Scott and Aiden pestered. Mum gave a sigh and placed the baby spoon down.

"Alright," she said, "I'll buy groceries after this, but until then do eat your food, darlings." Then she flashed her angelic smile that big brother just sat down and ate. Gavin and I giggled.

~0~

"Arthur, what do you want for dinner tonight?" Mother sweetly asked as she drove to the market with me in the backseat hugging flying mint bunny. I looked up and paused for a second.

I smiled at her then said, "I'll eat whatever Mommy cooks!"

And with that she patted my head and cheerfully announced, "Alright! It's settled! We are going to have roast beef tonight!"

"YAY!" I jumped in my seat then looked at flying mint bunny."Did you hear that Flying Mint Bunny? We are going to have roast beef tonight!" I then hugged my little stuffed friend as I heard mommy giggle.

~0~

"Ah!" said Gavin as he accidentally dropped their mother's favorite tea cup. "Oh no," Scott groaned as he stared at the piece of broken porcelain as the water from the faucet continued to run with the dishes that were in great need of cleaning. Wiping his hands in his red apron as he looked at his Welsh brother.

"I'm sorry," the teen said as he leaned down to pick up the pieces of shattered glass only to be cut by the razor sharp edges. "Ouch!"

"Careful!" Scott leaned down to aid his brother. He then took the bleeding finger."You idiot!" Scott spanked Gavin, "Now see what you did!"

"I said I was sorry," mumbled Gavin as he let Scott examine the cut.

"Sheesh, just go wash already. I'll take care of your mess," Scott groaned as he went to get a broom and dustpan. Gavin just gave him a nod and stared at the wound. The boy bit his lower lip. He felt an ominous feeling creep up to him like something bad was about to happen. The welsh shook his head. What was he thinking? Nothing bad was going to happen. " Everything is going to be fine…" he assured himself.

Drip drip drip drip

Gavin stood up and looked outside the window. The rain slowly trickled and then he turned to his cut. His heart beat took a quick pace. "Rain?"

~0~

"Mommy~! It's heavy~!" I complained as I struggled to carry a plastic bag filled with vegetables and meat. Though it seems like mommy did not hear me considering she was abnormally far and on the phone with dad. I heard a snicker and I quickly turned to the source. There I found a small boy about my age with blonde hair wearing a cap. I threw him a glare as soon as he started walking up to me.

"Need a hand?" he offered. I stuck my tongue to him.

"No thank you. I don't accept offers from rude people who snicker at me," I replied glaring at him in the process as I harumphed and began to take heavy steps towards Mommy. 'Why is this so heavy?!' I complained in my head. To my surprise he snatched the bag and started to lift it up and down without any effort. "Hey!" I protested and tried to snatch it away.

"Aw, don't be such a stick in the mud," the boy smiled then he gave me a wink. "It's a hero's job to help others in need right? What kind of a hero will I be if I don't help a damsel in distress?" felt blood rush to my cheeks. I was about to retort back when he turned his back and walked up to mommy.

"I'm not a damsel in distress!" I yelled at him and trailed right behind him with my face steaming red from anger and something else.

"Sure you aren't and I'm Hercules" he laughed, his voice sounded very nice like bells on a Sunday. The two of us began to chatter causing mommy to look our way. Then I felt mommy smile at us. The boy gave mommy the bag and smiled. "Here you go!" the boy chirped as he passed the bag to mommy.

"Why thank you very much, young man," mommy smiled at the boy as she took the plastic bag. After that she began to pat his head. "Thank you for helping my little princess."

"Mommy don't thank him!" I shouted at her and the boy at the same time. Mommy stopped and threw me the face.

"You're Welcome!" the boy said as he turned at me with a wide grin and my face became redder if that was even possible.

"Now, now love. Didn't I teach you to be thankful to people who help you?" she scolded her hands on her hips as she looked down at the two of us.

"I didn't ask for his help!" I screamed, tears threatening to fall from my forest orbs. My hands were holding my skirt.

"Well it looked like you needed it, princess," he retorted. "If I didn't help you, who knows how long it could have took you to bring that bag here." He smirked but that disappeared when he found I was about to cry. I blew raspberries at him and mommy laughed.

"Al!"

Our heads then whipped to the side to find a man waving our way. "Comin' dad!" 'Al' yelled back before he turned to face us. He smiled and walked up to me before landing a kiss on my cheek. "I don't care if you stay weak until we meet again," he said and backed away, " 'cuz that'll just mean I'll have to save my princess," Al winked and then run off to his dad. I felt my face steam up and turn as red as a tomato.

"SHUT UP! I'M NOT WEAK!" I angry yelled and glared at mommy when she began to laugh.

From the distance I felt Al laugh and wave a goodbye at us before disappearing with his father. Mommy patted my head and mouthed a come on before opening the car and heading inside. I pouted as I looked back to stare at the boy's back. A small smile then creaked up. I screamed at myself the moment I realized what I just did. I ran in the car peaked a final glance at the boy. My cheeks then glowed a pinkish red. Mommy started the engine of the car and began to drive back home. I looked at the window and saw the rain begin to fall. I grabbed Flying Mint Bunny.

I hate rain.

~0~

I whimpered. The rain was beginning to become abnormally strong. "Oh dear," I heard mommy say. I looked outside the window of the car. There were so many people annoyingly beeping, obviously irritated of the long wait. I sighed then hugged Flying Mint Bunny. After a couple of minutes, the traffic light finally became green. I almost jumped in my seat in glee as all the other cars started to move. Mommy moved the car forward. I heard people gasp as some started to shout.

"LOOK OUT!" "NOOOOO!" "STOOOOOOPPPP!"

CRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSS SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

I felt a large bang hit the side of the car. I screamed. The car flipped backward and my head spun.

SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEECCCCCCHHHHH HHHH!

The top of car then hit the ground and spun like a bottle. I laid down there as I felt my vision blur and cold liquid come out of my skull. I looked around only to find mommy sprawled on the ground too. I reached for her. But as I felt a force pull me down, my hand fell limply and my eyelids began to close…

"Mommy…"

~0~

"UWAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHUWAHH HHHHHHHHHUWAA!" A small blonde baby boy cried and his elder siblings then began to surround him.

"Aiden!" yelled Scott angrily. "Aren't you supposed to be looking after Peter?!" He glared at the middle child.

"I don't know okay?!" Aiden retorted as he tried to calm the crying boy down but to no avail as the baby just began to cry louder and louder.

"What's wrong Pete?" Gavin cradled the baby boy. The only response he got was an even louder cry. "Hush, hush, hush love," he said as he began to bounce the toddler.

RING!... RING!... RING!

The boys turned to phone as Aiden grabbed the device. "Hello?" he asked the person on the other line.

"UWWAAAAAAAHHHHHH~!"

"Gavin do something!" Scott yelled, annoyed with the sound his brother was emitting.

"I'm trying, okay?" said the Welsh as he started to rock his brother and he began to sing rhymes in hopes of at least appeasing the child. Suddenly, Aiden dropped the phone giving him the full attention of his brothers.

"Aiden?" they asked their brother confused.

The Irish snapped. "FATHER!" he said with a shriek of panic.

~0~

The morning light greeted my eyes as the birds began to sing their daily chorus. I heard beeping and the smell of medicine filled the room. With a groan I opened my eyes only to shut it the next because of the sunlight. I waited until it got used to the light before I reopened it and looked around. 'Where am I?' I asked myself trying to recall the events that took place. "Mommy…" I whispered then the door suddenly opened to reveal my big brother Scott.

"Oh, so you're finally awake," he said and I stood up almost automatically.

"Big brother!" Scott sat next to me and then placed a basket on top of the table beside the bed. He took a beautifully red apple from the basket.

"You gave us all quite a scare, Arthy," he said as he took a bite off the apple.

"What happened?" I asked him not able to remember anything other than the screeching of the cars and the shouts and screams of fear of the people around us.

"You and mum got into an accident," he said bluntly, "Drunk driver ya see. Darn guy almost got mum gone."

"Mommy?!" I said shocked. "What happened to mommy?"

"She's sleeping said Dad," his gaze then fell on me. "She wants to see you."

I smiled and got off the mattress.

~0~

BEEP…BEEP…BEEP…

I looked at my mother's sleeping figure. Her blonde hair was sprawled all around her as she lay silently on the hospital bed. The doctor said that she suffered a huge blow from the accident and that it was a miracle that she was still alive. Big brother Gavin placed me beside mommy's bed and I began to stroke her face. "Mommy…?" I felt movement.

"Mmmm…" mommy then began to open her eyes and I smiled at her.

"Mum!" Big brother Aiden said with a sigh of relief.

"Good morning, mommy!" I smiled at her then took her hand that was so cold.

"Good morning too, love," she said as she tried to sit up only to be pushed down by Daddy.

"Dear, you shouldn't sit up just yet," daddy said as he helped mommy lie down again.

"Mmm…" her eyes were very tired with visible black bogs and her skin was really pale. Almost like she was about to die…

Nooo!NOO!NO! What am I thinking about?!

I mentally kicked myself. Mommy then touched my cheek. "Arthur…" she smiled weakly.

"Yes, mommy?" I said warmly as I held her hand and gave her the brightest smile I could muster.

"Can you promise me something, sweety?" she asked me. I scrunched my brow.

"What is it?" She pulled me towards her and embraced me then whispered to my ear.

"Arthur, darling can you promise mommy to be always strong?" she whispered. I pulled away from her. A confused look on. She then started to caress my face. "Can you promise me that you will not let anyone hurt you? That you will stand up every time you fall? That you will pull yourself together always? That you will always be my baby? My angel?" Mommy then began to hug me. Why is she saying this? I heard Gavin gasp.

"Mum, what are you talking about?"

"Darling…" daddy then held mommy's hand.

"Don't worry, love. I just…" she paused as she slowly closed her eyes and opened them again as she shook her head.

"Mum, stop it… Don't tire yourself no more. You need to rest," Scott said as he tried to pry me away.

"That's right!" Aiden shakily agreed. "You're just tired is all! That's why you're talking like this!"

"Ri-right!" Gavin joined in, fear soaking every word he said. My brothers gave a nod at each other. Mommy smiled. She then turned to me. Waiting for my answer.

What's happening? I gulped and smiled.

"Of course, mommy!" I said cheerfully and hugged her. "I will always be your baby! Now and forever!" I felt her hug me then pushed me away as she landed a kiss on my nose. Mommy then looked at Daddy. She smiled. Then her gaze turned to my brothers. She opened her mouth only to close it afterwards. A tear fell from her eyes and she reached for me then cupped my face.

"I love you…"

….Beep…..beep…..beeeeeeeeeeep!

Her hand fell down to my lap. Our eyes widened and our breathe stopped as our hearts beat quickened. "Mommy...?" I asked silently.

"Nurse!" daddy shouted frantically as he shook mommy.

"Mum…"

"Nurse…"daddy shouted in a volume louder than before.

Then I snapped… I grabbed mommy's hand then tears fell from my eyes. "MOOOOMMMMMMMMMYYYYYYYY!" I screamed. "MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMY YYYYY!" I shouted at the top of my lungs. Nurses and doctors then came as big brother Scott grabbed me kicking and screaming away from mommy. "MOMMY!NO!MOMMYY!" Tears rolled down my eyes as I looked at my mother's body. "MOOOOOOOOO MMMMMMMMYYYYYYYYYYY!"

"ARTHUR!" Scott shook me. "Arthur calm down," he whispered gently me as he began to wipe away the tears from my eyes.

"NOOOOOO!" I screamed as I pummeled his chest. "Mommy~! I want Mommy~!" I cried.

"Arthur, please," he begged as he tried to grab my wrist.

"NoooooOOOO!" I pummeled harder.

"Arthur, please," he grabbed my arms and made me face him. I stopped and looked at his green eyes. "Arthur, listen to me…" Scott said. I sniffed. "Don't break your promise…" he then hugged me. "Don't break your promise to mum… please?" his embrace got tighter. Then I felt hot liquid fall on my back followed by silent sobs. I began to tear up again but more silently as I hugged big brother.

I'm sorry, Mommy…

My hand formed a fist.

Don't worry…

I promise

I will be strong…

I will not let anyone hurt me…

I promise…

I smiled. And whispered…

"I promise…"

-TBC

-Jun Jae-Kyung

~YAY! Edited!