AN: As always, TheLovelyJudy and WhiteRusskie are the greatest reviewers ever! Stay awesome, my friends!

WhiteRusskie-I never really thought of it before, but there must have been a ton of STDs being spread. As the Cinema Snob so wisely pointed out, "In ancient Rome, you couldn't brush your teeth without getting pegged". It's really no wonder their empire declined.

Two months later

"My lady, the Emperor is very sick. I think it would be wise for you to visit him."

"What about Caesonia? I'm sure she'll be more than happy to take care of him" Drusilla replied, not bothering to stop fixing her hair.

"He asked specifically for you, my lady. He'll allow no one else but the doctor to see him"

"Really?" she turned, a look of honest surprise on her face. "How bad is it?"

She'd heard rumors of his illness, but never listened too closely. After all, she had stopped caring for him after he married that whore. Avoiding him in the palace halls had become her daily goal, and she had succeeded in meeting it nearly every time.

The messenger turned slightly red. "I cannot say for sure, my lady, but we fear-"

"Do we know for certain that he'll be all right?"

The desperation in her voice let the young boy know that a roundabout answer wouldn't do, so he simply shook his head. Drusilla sprang to her feet and dashed out of her room, her feet barely touching the ground as she made her way to Caligula's chamber.

He lay in bed, frighteningly pale and glassy-eyed. Drusilla climbed into his bed unhesitatingly, barely hearing the doctor's warning.

"Drusilla's here, darling. You're safe now."

She held his head in her hands and wiped off his sweat with her dress. He tried to say something to her, but she hushed him and told him that he needed to sleep.

"You sent for me, my lord" a mousy man interrupted. He was standing in the doorway, clutching a stack of parchment.

"Yes, come here" Caligula beckoned, only able to raise his hand a few inches. "I would like to change my will so that when I die, the position of Emperor will be passed on to my sister, Julia Drusilla". The shock in the room was palpable, and Drusilla attempted to hide her triumphant smile by nuzzling the top of her brother's head.

He does love me the best! Of course he loves me the best. He's always loved me the best.

"My lord, are you quite sure that you are of sound mind?"

Drusilla glared at him, making a mental note to do something truly horrible to him if her brother did die and she became Empress.

All protests were quickly silenced, and the new will was stamped with the royal seal.

"Gaius" she murmured against his shoulder "you feel a lot less hot than you did before."

Isis, Gods, if you exist, make my brother live. Don't let anyone harm him; let them take me instead. I swear to always protect him and to die for him if I have to. Just please let him live. Let my brother live.

"Gaius" she sobbed with relief after a few more hours "you feel completely normal. You're alright, darling!"