An Empire…

Part 2- Family.

Albion has been with them for a long time now, he's forgetting what his Mother looks like, he remembers her long blonde hair and the angelic looks she has, but he can't remember exactly what she looks like, did she have matching eyes? Was her features delicate and beautiful like Éire's Mother, or did she have more raw beauty like Alba's Mother?

Albion often finds his self questioning; why wasn't he allowed a Mother? His brothers were allowed to keep their ones… not say that he didn't want their Mothers to be dead! No, he enjoyed their Mother's stories; it reminds him of his own Mother… it's comforting.

He remembers how he first met them. He, Éire and Alba had been talking… well after Alba had tired from fighting… that had taken a while…

Éire had pushed Alba down, grinning at the boy, who glared at their older brother. Albion had long since given up- he was sweating from trying to fight back, and he was sure if Alba got up again Éire would get bored and go off and he'd have to face Alba's wrath- like always. But, Alba wasn't getting back up, he was sweating, bleeding and breathing deeply- he was exhausted, and Éire was basking in the glory of another win (Albion had never seen the teen loose before, and he doubted he would).

"So… Do you give in Alba?" Éire eventually questioned, hid water like green eyes watched, as Alba struggled to get up, only to fall back down.

Albion had been with them long enough to see Éire's wisdom and superior strength, he also had found the teen got bored easily, and when he did he'd run off to find his Mother or find something more fun to do. Meanwhile, Alba was stubborn, stubborn and strong. And he wouldn't leave something until he was sure he was completely through with it. He was also very intelligent, Albion knew, but he had noticed the boy would rather run head first into matters, instead of sit around making plans and counter plans and… and all that stuff Éire enjoyed helping Celt with.

He also had seen them enough to see the different shades of green they all had. Celt had a green that matched the strongest and greenest trees that surrounded them. Éire had a watery green, and they were deep, so deep that Albion was sure they had no end. And Alba had a fierce and strong green that gave him a look that made you think he could tear through anything. And Albion was sure his green eyes would never match theirs, they would never be as strong or as beautiful, and so he always stood back and let the other two have fun with their fighting, he knew he wouldn't even be a match to any of them in the first place anyways.

"Not going to run to your Mother?" Alba hissed out, too tired to get back up and getting annoyed of Éire just watching him struggle and not getting bored and running off like he usually would, but those words just seemed to spring interest into the teens eyes and he walked over to Albion, who was exhausted and was trying to blend with his surroundings- he didn't want to be remembered by his brothers.

"Where's your Ma?" He questioned, taking Albion's hands and pulling him up. "Cause I haven't seen her…"

"She died…" Albion says eventually, the first time actually talking to his eldest brother, who never seemed too interested with the small blonde.

"Nations can die?" Éire sounds shocked, and then looks thoughtful. "She… was a Nation right?"

Albion nods his yes, whereas Éire quickly kicks Alba who's slowly sneaking towards them, in the hopes of grabbing Éire' legs and pulling him to his level, so he could have another fight, without having to get up for it. Éire pulls Albion around the angry Alba and starts walking outside, ignoring the violent howls from Alba; grinning absolutely intrigued by the fact Nation's could die.

"What was your Ma like?" he questions after a few moments of thought.

"She… used to tell me stories… and she's as pretty as an angel… and she's the best Mother ever!" Éire looks like he'd laugh at Albion's little outburst, but he doesn't, he just keeps moving them forward.

"You can't have the best Ma, cause my Ma's the best…" Then he pauses for a second. "My Ma's like a Goddess and she's so beautiful and she's really skilled and knows a lot! So cause my Ma's the best Ma, your Ma's second best, Ok?"

Albion nods, and Éire's grinning and laughing and talking so much, Albion can't help but take some sort of comfort in the teens presence… he was nicer than Alba he decides… though secretly he still thinks his Mother's the best.

"Ma!" Éire yells and drags Albion over to the red haired lady, whose smiling and Albion has to admit she is beautiful like the teen said, she's smaller than others, she's delicate and she has such a musical voice, that she seems more Fae like than Éire, that Albion has to question if she's really a Nation.

"And whose your little friend?" she questions smiling down at Albion.

"Ah, he's my new brother, Albion; Papa Celt brought him here the other day!" Éire says pushing Albion towards his Mother, whose crouching and smiling. "I was telling him how you're like a Goddess!"

His Mother laughs, the edges of her eyes crinkle together in pleasure.

"Did you now?"

"Yeah, because you are, ain't that right Albion?" He's nudged lightly by Éire's elbow and he nods his agreement.

"Ériu!" A strong female's voice calls out, as Éire's Mother goes to speak. And in bursts a woman with black hair that reaches her knees and it's longer than any other person Albion's seen, and it's plaited and pleated where ever it can be, but it's a scruffy mess, her face and all the skin that is shown had faded blue paint against it as through, she couldn't quite be bothered to take off all the war paint.

"Picts," Éire's Mother nods in acknowledgement, her face is highly amused as she watches the woman tread on her own hair tripping herself up.

Éire's holding back his laughter, while Alba limps in after the long haired woman and rolls his eyes, walking over towards Albion and Éire, and punches them both. Albion rubs his arm lightly and glares at Alba, who continues to hit Éire, who isn't reacting to Alba's punches at all, and his laughter seems to be directed at Alba now.

Albion's plan was to slip away from the boys un-noticed; not wanting to get dragged into their fighting again, but the second he turns around to do so he's face to face with the black haired woman who's crawled over to him. Éire's Mother looks highly amused as she watches Albion jump back in surprise.

"Who's the runt?" The black haired woman questions, tilting her head- she's seemed to have completely forgotten why she came in the first place, but she's more intrigued by Albion now, so she doesn't care.

"He's small!" Alba yells, only to get Éire to reply "as are you!" Like he always does in return; they continue their fighting. Éire obviously winning as usual.

"That's Albion," chuckles Éire's Mother, and before he knows what's going on Albion finds his self being lifted up onto the black haired woman's shoulders and she's cheering, and Albion clinging onto her for dear life- she's tall, really, really tall!

"Ah, you're the runt; Alba thinks he can forever push over!" She cheers. "Now you've got to prove him wrong! You grown up big and strong, and taller than him and beat him up!"

"Ma!" Alba calls out, angrily and Éire's laughing walking over to his Mother, while Alba's distracted.

"You want to be lifted up as well brat?" She calls down to Alba (and Albion knows that this is Alba's mother now); she lifts him up Alba on one shoulder and Albion on her other.

And although Alba's protesting, and although he's growling and hissing at Albion, Albion can't help but feel that he might belong here… and he might like it here… if he can ignore all the fights he gets dragged into.

But then Albion can't help but notice that both woman have their matching green eyes; both a shade slightly darker than their sons; he can't help but feel slightly left out, he can't help but feel lonely. Did his Mother have green eyes like theirs? Were his green eyes just as beautiful?

Space-You-Better-Appear-This-Time-Ok?

After that his brothers Mothers treated him as one of their own, and he's lived with them for about 500 years without problem. Papa Celt, as the man insists they should call him, has become older… he looks to be in his 30s now, and as he ages his growing desire for battle dies out.

His hair is losing its red shine; it's slowly turning grey, and his green eyes are losing their vibrant colour and Albion has to question… is that what happens when you die? When you become too loved? Do Nations die if they become too great? Too strong? Too loved…? Is that why his Mother died?

And he wants to stop thinking that way! He wants to be a loving country like his Mother told him to be… but he doesn't think he can… it's scary… terrifying actually… But… he wants to grow up… and he wants his Mother to be proud…

Papa Celt takes him back to his own land, and Albion doesn't know why. And he's worried: has he done something wrong? Will he be killed like his Mother? Will he be abandoned? But at the same time he's filled with a feeling of lightness, strength and relief and it's filling him and he loves his land, and it's making him feel bubbles of excitement, and he can feel the Fae that he used to play with watch him… they want to see him.

And he loves his land… he absolutely loves it.

Papa Celt takes them South. Just the two of them, and they're heading South, so South that he almost fears that when they reach the water Papa Celt will continue on… Albion hopes the man doesn't think he can walk on water, because his magic isn't that strong yet…

And they stop. And Albion knows where they are! It's his Mothers favourite spot. He remembers this place, and how his Mother would look out at the sea and tell him wondrous stories about lands over the water. And then she'd point out the large white cliffs, and she tells him how she adores them, and how she loves watching them, and how one day she wishes the rest of the world would enjoy and love them too.

Papa Celt's looking at those cliffs right now as well.

"You're named after those cliffs…" Papa Celt says after a while, and he looks kind of awkward. "You're Mother… named you after them…"

Their silent and all Albion can only ponder was that his Mother's love? Did she name him after those cliffs, because she adored them… did she want him to be adored by the world… was that why she named him after those cliffs?

"You can kill me…" And Albion looks over at the man, shocked. The man looks tired. Exhausted. "I killed your Mother… you could get revenge…"

"I could…" he agrees, but shakes his head no. "But I won't…" And it's silent, neither saying anything before the blonde continues. "There's no point… Mother loves you… She wouldn't be happy if I killed you to avenge her…" And he thinks that maybe for once he's understood his Mother's meaning of love…

But before they could continue their conversation, before Albion can question Papa Celt about his Mother, seeing as the conversation is out in the open now, and he could ask about his Mother. They see it. From the distance coming closer. And closer… a boat… a ship.

Papa Celt pushes Albion behind him, tells him to get Picts and Ériu. He needs to warn them. And so Albion runs north, back towards his family, his Mother's Fae… his now, come forwards and help him, his unicorn lifting him onto his back and galloping forward.

Leaving behind Papa Celt, his red-grey hair shining with the sun's rays pouring down on them his cloak billowing around him, and he looks strong and alive… He looks like he did all those centuries ago, when Albion met him… and Albion can't help but find it ironic how he's protecting the land that once belonged to the woman he killed off.

Albion watches the distance until Papa Celt is nothing but a speck of dust in the distance, and then he's looking forwards, looking for his family, his Unicorn gallops and he find it soothing and he guesses he might just love his Father, for protecting this land from whoever was coming… yes… he might just love his Father… only a little bit…

55BC… The first Roman Invasion against Britain…

A/N: And that would be chapter 2! Aw, Albion soon your brothers are going to hate you and invade you, so Alba's being kind of nice to you at the moment! Yes, the little stopping thing in-between parts in the last chapter didn't work, so let's hope they show up this time!

And now history notes:

-Ériu is one of the three Goddess' that represent the land of Ireland, Ériu being the main one and most used one, and apparently people enjoy using her as the actual personification of Ireland, so I thought it would be fitting to use her as Erie's Mother, it's also why he says his Mother looks like a Goddess.

-The Picts are the tribes that controlled the Northern half of Scotland… until the 10th century where they fused with the South half of Scotland (Alba), so you can tell that yes she will make another appearance, and she's going to be the parent who sticks around the longest.

-Those cliffs are the white cliffs of Dover (I'm assuming everyone knows of them, seeing as they're famous in Britain, and the closest piece of land we have to the rest of Europe, also where most countries start their invasions against us). The White cliffs of Dover are also why the country was named Albion, something about them being white I guess, but yes that is when Albion gets his name from!

-As the last line of the story says 55BC is the year of Rome's FIRST invasion against Britain. FIRST, meaning there's more to come!

-Wales isn't in the story yet –sad face- he shall be in the story in two or three chapters though!

And I'm gonna say right now, there's gonna probably be a lot of OC's floating about in the story, I'll try to keep them to a minimum, but going through England's history involves a lot of the UK siblings (but of course they don't become the UK, for nothing) and Portugal plays a huge part in our history, seeing as he's England only friend (Ha! Take that France! England isn't friendless!), and then over half of his colonies don't even have characters yet. And God the research that goes behind making the OC's, I'm fine with the UK sibs, because I'm British, but I don't know half the stuff I should about half the colonies!

But yes, anyways I hope you've enjoyed this chapter, I shall try to mix humour and angst together, because really going through history involves a lot of angst and blood and death, it's the way it works… Can't wait to get to Queen Elizabeth the 1st and King Arthur's part of the story, though Rome's gonna be fun to have in the story too!