Hello to you! This is ScatteringAshes (but ya'll can call me Ash) with my first story! I hope this goes over well; it's my first time writing the Italies, and I'm not exactly for sure about how it's turning out...This is the reason you should never role play while suffering from post-con depression...

Anywho, I hope you guys enjoy this!Oh! And to forewarn you, we decided to use Latin forms of names here. Trying to be as accurate as I can be!

Disclaimer: I don't own jack-squat. However, I did buy several key chains, a wall hanging, and a Gilbird when I was at the con. Plus I'm up-to-date in the anime and manga here in the States. But yeah...I'm not Himaruya-sensai. I'm not that gifted.

The rain was constant, but gentle. Tiny drops splashed against the stone streets and darkened whatever they touched. The streets were mostly empty; no one wanted to be caught in the rain and had taken shelter. However, three small boys were not nearly as fortunate.

The two smaller boys, one no older than three and the other still practically an infant, clung to the oldest boy, trembling with cold. The oldest boy, who couldn't have been more than four or five years of age, held the shivering baby in an attempt to give some of his own warmth to the younger boy. All three boys were dressed in the dirty, tattered remains of their togas, neither one of them having seen a proper bath in weeks. The middle child was snuggling up to his brother, whimpering from hunger and cold.

"Don't cry, Felicianus," the older boy said, smoothing out his brother's curls. "You know I hate it when you cry."

Felicianus said nothing; with the exception of a few words, speech was still beyond him. His only forms of communication consisted of whimpers and cries and the giggly noises his brother hadn't heard since their parents were murdered. Romanus held his shivering baby brother close in an attempt to keep the baby warm. He was scared and frightened; how could he keep stealing enough to help them all survive? Mater and Pater had always said stealing was wrong…

Then again, they had said murder was wrong too, but that hadn't stopped the thieves that had attacked and murdered them.

The sound of footsteps drawing nearer grabbed hold of Romanus's attention, and the child clutched his brothers closer to him in an attempt to hide the sounds Felicianus was making. With any luck, whoever it was wouldn't notice them and would continue on their way.

However, it seemed that Romanus's luck royally sucked. The stranger apparently managed to hear Felicianus's whimpering and noticed the brothers. Romanus squeezed his eyes shut and held his whimpering brothers closer to him, hoping that by some miracle they would become invisible and the stranger would leave. Then again, Romanus's luck proved to be less the adequate for such a wish.

"What are three tiny filii doing here all alone in the cold? Where are your parents?"

Romanus looked up at the stranger. He was struck by how familiar the man looked. This stranger had hair just like their father; dark and curly locks framing a tanned face. The oldest brother shook his head. He didn't know this man, and he was not about to put his brothers' lives in danger. The child couldn't think of a thing to say; anything he said would give away something. He couldn't say that his parents were out buying food, because he was pretty sure the stranger wouldn't overlook their ragged appearances, and he couldn't tell the man the truth. Orphans in Rome didn't always have the best lives…

"Well? Are you going to answer me?"

"Just leave us alone!" Romanus growled, shoving his brothers behind him in an effort to protect them.

"But I can't leave small children alone with no adults to care for them, especially not on a night like this. Come with me; I'll help you find your parents."

"We know where our parents are, spuria! They're both dead on the roadside somewhere."

The stranger's eyes widened in shock. Romano rubbed his eyes with his dirty arm, not caring about the smudging filth. He was an orphan, a street rat. He supposed to look pathetic. Before he knew it, the stranger had all three boys wrapped in a strong hug. The man wrapped the boys in his red cloak and carried them away, Romanus screaming and kicking the whole way, Felicianus grateful for the new source of warmth, and the infant sleeping peacefully in the man's arms.

...I humbly ask your forgiveness in bothering you with this fail. Never role played as either Italy, but my cousin insisted that I step out of my comfort zone. Still, please be kind and review! Faves and alerts are wonderful, but I like hearing actual feedback from people!

Romanus: Latin form of Romano. We decided to use Latin names, at least at first.

Felicianus: Latin form of Feliciano.

filii: Latin for "children"

spuria: Romano says this. What do you think it's Latin for? (coughBASTARDcoughcough)

I'd like to know if I should continue this or no...Also, not sure if you guys caught it, but the third kid (the baby) is supposed to be Seborga. We're still trying to figure out what to name him, but we're thinking about Gratianus/Graziano meaning "pleasing/agreeable". If anyone has any ideas, we'd be glad to hear them!