Let's just pick up where we left off last time shall we.

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Lorenzo woke to an odd smokey scent in his chambers. He thought he had heard a soft feminine voice say something to him sadly but when he opened his eyes and looked about he saw nothing. His motions however caused something on his bed to tumble to the ground with a heavy thunk. Looking down he sees a bronze torque laying on his floor next to his bed. He bolts upright at recognizing the piece of jewelry and bolts out of the room and outside.

He searches frantically, asking the guards if they had seen a woman that morning, describing Bretta to them to the best of his abilities. No one had seen her. It was as though she had simply vanished, come and gone like a ghost. He held the torque to him as if holding it would bring back the woman who it belonged to.

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Bretta had managed to make her escape as easily as she had her entrance. Slipping back over the wall she quickly made her way away from it, escaping to the north and heading for the home of her one son not in Rome's hands.

When she arrived in Scotland's village he was quick to take in his mother. Despite appearing barely older than ten Scotland was very mature. He also realized something had happened to upset his mother.

Leading her to a seat by the hearth he served her a warm stew and allowed her to rest.

"Lachlan."

The boy looks to his mother and she suddenly seems very old in his eyes. Eyes widening he moves to her side and places a hand on her knee.

"Yes mother?"

"I am afraid I am not long for this world. Rome's influence is expanding within my lands."

The boy looks worriedly at his mother. "But mother. You still have a small influence of lands here and on Eire."

She looks sadly at her son. "Even if I had not taken care to have someone to take my place Lachlan I would still soon be gone. The people are slowly forgetting the ways of my people. The Roman influence is replacing what makes me me." She lays a hand on her belly, drawing attention to it. "Once this little one is born I will not be her for much longer. Lachlan, I want you to look after the little one. They will take my place."

"No!" He wraps his arms tightly about the woman before him in a desperate attempt to hold her to him forever. "No I won't let you go. Mother!"

"Shh, shh child. It will be fine. You will see. You will still have your uncle and father. You mustn't forget that."

The boy was still upset, but he did not say more. He realized that somewhere it was too late to do anything to save his mother from her fate. She would soon be gone. Replaced by whatever child she carried. He buried his face in her side and held her. He hated that his mother would soon be gone.

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The next day Bretta sent word to her brother. She wanted to see him before she left this world. She also wanted to be sure that he would help Lachlan and her newest child when he or she was born. She debated on whether to tell Rome of her predicament but decided to not distract him with her troubles. It would only cause him pain and she hoped to never cause him more pain than she already had.

When Lachlan and her brother found out she had lain with Rome one last time to procure the child that would take her place they were, to say the least, upset.

"I told you he would bring you nothing but pain schweister, but you refused to listen. Why do you continue to insist that..."

"It is good to see you too Alaric. And I can not help that Lorenzo is a rather charismatic man. Besides..." She looks down sadly, a motion that catches her brother's attention more than any other. "He will not be far behind me."

"What do you mean Bretta?" It seems that she had thrown him for a loop.

"All the unrest and internal struggles which he suffers on a daily basis, they are wearing him down. If the center of an empire can not hold itself together then it will surely collapse and I fear Lorenzo will not survive when that happens."

Alaric moves to embrace his sister as she looks about ready to cry. His strong and once powerful older sister, now a broken and sobbing shell held within his arms as he realizes that she is right and there was not avoiding this. All that she had done till now had only delayed the inevitable.

"Are you planning to tell him of the child you now carry?"

She shakes her head.

"No. I will leave this child in your and Lachlan's care. Please brother."

Holding her tighter he nods, "Of course."

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Lorenzo was nearly tearing his hair out. The past year had been hell for him. Ever since that morning he had awoken to find Bretta's torque he had taken to wearing the piece in hopes it would draw the woman of his dreams to him. It had not work so far. And he had been receiving word recently that things were once again shifting within what remained of her lands. The celtic tribes were breaking up and reforming themselves into something new. It frightened and disturbed Lorenzo, worry for his love eating away at him.

He was currently in his capitol, pacing his chambers, when a guard came to inform him of a visitor.

"Let them in."

He was a bit surprised to see that it was Germania that was visiting. Though surprising him more was the small bundle he held in his arms. It was odd to see the stern warrior he had fought against and with on so many occasions hold such a delicate form.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of your company Germania?"

When Germania raised his head to meet his gaze Lorenzo realized the solemn air about the other for the first time.

"I came to inform you that my sister, Celtica is no longer. Her lands and people have dissolved, with no thanks from you and your rulers."

Lorenzo nearly let his knees give way at the news.

"What, no. She can't be gone!" Instead he threw himself at the other man, nearly forcing him to drop the child he carried. Germania managed to keep a hold of the babe and still catch the Roman.

"I am afraid it is the truth." When Lorenzo still had not released him Germania cleared his throat. "Do you mind getting off? I still have more to tell you."

Still in slight shock from the news Lorenzo releases the Germanic man and sits heavily on a settee.

"Before she... died she was aware of what was happening and took precautions so her lands would be represented."

"Precautions?"

Germania held out the blonde babe he had been holding the entire time.

"This is Arthur, she asked me to look after him. Scotland has been asked to care for Eire, his sister. They are both your children."

"My..." He reached out to take the bundled up child and looked down at his face just as he gave a large yawn and opened his emerald green eyes, the same eyes as his mother.

He noticed Germania shifting uncomfortably. "Lorenzo," He was a bit surprised to hear his human name used, "Bretta didn't want me to tell you about her fate or your last children together, but I couldn't not tell you. Despite it all you are my friend. Bretta left this world with the knowledge that your own empire was beginning to fall into chaos. You should at least prepare to have someone that can take your place."

Lorenzo sighed and handed the child back to his uncle. "So then it is a warning that you bring me Alaric."

A nod is his only response.

"I see. Then thank you for that. I, I am sorry for what I have done in regards to Bretta. She did not deserve the fate she was slated."

Germania turned to leave. "Do not let her hear you say that. She was happy with how things turned out I believe and would not want you to be hurt by the news that she is gone." A pause, "That is actually why she didn't want you to know. She wanted to spare you that pain. I however feel that not knowing would have hurt you more."

"Thank you."

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After Alaric left Rome he headed home. Franks had been hitting his teen years and was becoming a little monster to deal with. Aside from having only recently having come back to living with his uncle, Rome was no place for child at this time, he was still very much his father's son. This meant that Germania was having to keep a close eye on the boy for fear he would begin to 'conquer' the local maidens.

He wondered why Eire was left to her brother, Lachlan's care but he knew his sister must have her reasons. Despite her flighty appearance she was very wise. Not many nations were able to 'predict their own death as she had. And she had even taken measures to ensure a smooth transition from her to her heirs. She had given him the warning for Rome even, but had said nothing about his own nation. It made him wonder how many he would outlive. Already Scandia was on the decline as well as Aesti. Perhaps he should pay the two a visit in the coming years. He knew Aesti at least would welcome him.

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The End of this anyway.

So sad, Bye Celtica. You won't be forgotten.

Ok so history time:

I had Germania take in Arthur for a similar reason as to why he took in Franks. Arthur is Saxony, a germanic tribe that invaded Britain. Now I'm taking liberties in that his lands are already the lands of Britannia but he needs the cultural influx and being raised by Germania will give him that.

Scotland got Ireland to raise, because I always figured those two were really close and if Scotland was raising Ireland then, yeah.

Scandia's deal. Basically the father of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Germania would have taken these three in as well once Scandia passed.

Wow just realized how much of a 'daddy' Germania is and he doesn't even have kids of his own, yet.

Aesti, the predecessor to the baltic nations and a few others. She and Germania get it on shortly before she kicks the bucket and you get Prussia. She also got with Slovenia for a short period and produced Finland, joy! At some point I'm drawing a family tree for these people. For the record Prussis was born around 600ad in this head canon, just for reference.

When Rome falls:

A lot of crazy happens. Such as Franks learning that dear old dad had a hand in his mom's death. Sad but he kicks his dad out of his lands and starts picking on the little Italies.

Arthur eventually goes to live with his brother Scotland, but due to being bullied relentlessly by his big brother Franks, or France by this point, sweeps in and takes over his care. He also takes in Wales who I'm not even sure why I'm mentioning him he's a footnote... Oh god, Wales is the Canada of the UK.

I can't think of any other loose ends that need fixing so this is the end of this unless I get a review asking for more on the after shocks of Celtica's death. Review please.