Looking up from the fire Wales noticed that it was getting late now, the sun was slowly setting as all of the United Kingdom brothers gathered back to their camp, turning his gaze back down again Cymru began cooking dinner for him and his brothers Alba and Shawn began to have a small quarrel with one another about who could hold their liquor better or who could stay up the latest, whereas Arthur just sat on one of the trees up lifted roots, staring at the sky trapped within his own mind, not really thinking about anything in particular he was just thinking.

Silently Cymru glanced towards his mobile, which he had snuck out of the house whilst Arthur finished up in the kitchen, noticing that its screen was glowing alerting him that someone had recently attempted to contact him. Grabbing the phone he flipped it open reading through the message, over and over again.

"Matthew and Keith are coming over!" he announced, joy and shock emitting from his throat as he shouted out the good news. Granted this meant that the four brothers would have to cut their camping trip short, but it was definitely for a good cause, Cymru skipped over to his twin to show him the text which he had received, just incase the distracted Brit hadn't heard him. Glassy green eyes skimmed over the words on the screen widening as he read it once again just incase he had misinterpreted the text:

Hey uncle Wales! Just thought I should let you know. Keith and I are coming over to visit dad and will be staying until the meeting is over next week! We will be arriving at the airport at 10am tomorrow! Sorry for the short notice but thought it would be a fun surprise for dad – Matthew (Canada)

Arthur gave a cry of joy much higher than any of his brothers' would have expected from the ex-pirate, before taking the phone from his twins grasp and quickly replying to his sons' text, the welsh blonde stood behind the British gentleman glancing over his shoulder as he wrote, his fingers going at rapid speed making clicking sounds as they typed:

Ok just make sure that you both bring spare clothes and a camping kit (I know you have two sets Matthew so don't forget!) I will meet you at the airport tomorrow with everyone, we will be camping for a few days ok see you tomorrow – Cymru

With that he quickly sent the message, laughing loudly when the phone bleeped announcing his virtual letter would soon be received by his sons. Looking up he saw his twins eyes glowing equally as bright as his own as he continued to laugh, he would soon have two more loved ones standing next to him, he wouldn't be alone this week, he would always have someone by his side for a whole week maybe this will make up for all the years he had spent alone.

"Artie~ why did you just pretend to be me~" Wales whined as he gripped at his younger brothers hand pulling him towards the fire before carrying on cooking the food, making sure it wasn't burning as he waited for England's reply.

"cause I can, oh yeah lads we are going to have to go to the air port tomorrow morning at 10am sharp so we better get a good night's sleep tonight" flinching a bit Arthur began eating ignoring the worried glances which alba sent him, the eldest Kirkland already knew that his youngest brother wouldn't be going to sleep... not after last night's episode Arthur wouldn't risk the rest of their brothers seeing him like that, it was more than likely that Arthur would either sit silently in his tent thinking to himself or he would sneak out and sit next in the crook of the old tree like he had previously been doing before his sons had announced their visit. Sighing Alba decided he would see what the result would be for tonight's adventure later on when Wales and north Ireland had gone to dream land, it would be long now the red-head mussed as he noticed his Irish brother let out a rather loud yawn whilst Cymru began resting his head between Arthur's neck and shoulder, his eyes partially closed as he began to drift off to sleep by the rhythm of his twins calm breathing.

Raising slowly from his seat, Scotland began leading Shawn towards his tent, but not before the sleepy red head bid his youngest brother goodnight, letting him rest his head before going back outside to seed Arthur carrying Cymru on his back heading towards the Welshman's own tent, laughing slightly when he heard the small mutterings of 'I not sleepy' from the older blonde twin. Within a few minutes a familiar blonde mop poked out of the tent his twin was currently residing in, looking around his vibrant green eyes landed on his eldest brother, silently England made his way over towards the still lit fire before flopping down on the ground leaving enough room for the larger man if he should want to join him, unfortunately alba had a different idea as he sat just behind his brothers' head, reaching forward he gently lifted his brothers' upper body so that the younger man's head was now resting on his legs, grinning he looked down at his now red faced brother laughing slightly at the blondes expression.

"So I guess you have no intention of going to sleep tonight boyo? Hmmmm?" the personification of Scotland enquired despite the fact that he already knew the answer to the question, knowing his brother wouldn't be going to sleep anytime soon the Scotsman had prepared for the nights just incase.

"No" Arthur answered in a monotone voice as he glanced up at his brother his gaze bored as he continued his explanation "I don't really feel like waking both Shawn and Cymru up because I can't fight some sleep demons.." scowling the elder man softly began stroking the blonde locks in front of him, ignoring the grunt of annoyance from the boy in his lap as he continued the motion, the two brothers sat like this for quite a while just relaxing in each other's company, holding a silent conversation between themselves. It was a few hours into the night when Arthur slowly began to drift into a semi-conscious state, his brothers rough fingers massaging his head forcing him to relax as the gentle swaying of the branches in the leaves provided a soothing melody to his brothers' soft humming of the lullaby he once dreamt about, drawing his mind back to the days when he and his brothers would always be together, before all of the wars ripped them apart, before he knew hate, before he was broken into such small pieces only being held back together by the glue known as will power.

:: Flash back::

"Hey big brother!" shouted a small short blonde boy, his voice although high in pitch, was soft almost angelical as he spoke his words clearly, far more clearer than any boy his age. this small boy was called Arthur Kirkland or England, and at this time he looked to be around the age of five, his bright green eyes shone with wonder as he looked towards the teenage boy in front of him, Alba Kirkland. it was only the two of the in the hut at the moment as Shawn had taken his younger brother Cymru out to the lake to be bathed.

"Aye, what is it boyo?" alba asked, his voice fluctuating between pitches as he spoke. he was wearing his dark blue cape which reached his mid-thigh, white short sleeved wool top and brown working pant, perfect for the life of protecting his family. slowly he allowed his eyes to study his youngest brother, his small stature was shocking, but not surprising, for a boy his age. his clothes hung loosely on his body as he ran, green cape and long black top flowing behind him as he went.

"I was talking to the fae over by the river and they said that something bad was going to happen, what do you think it is?" Arthur's eyes widened slightly, clearly showing the worry which he had not let show on his facial features, alba sighed slightly not really knowing how to explain to the young boy that there was an invasion coming and more than likely the brothers wouldn't see each other for a while due to the inevitable war.

"well, there are some people coming, bad people, who want to take our home away... don't you worry though boyo, your big brother alba will take care of them!" he announced, his voice changing from a solemn sound to that of a confident fighter, flashing Arthur a fox-like grin, alba reached down and picked his youngest brother up moving from their place in the open fields back towards a small hut like house.

"b-but what if they hurt you or take you away from me big brother! I don't want that!" England voiced the only nagging thought within his confused mind, 'why would someone want to take our home away? don't they know that we live here?', the questions kept piling up as alba laid him down on his small bed, which he shared with his twin brother.

"I know ye don't brother, but I can't risk them coming after you and Cymru, now can I" the red-head didn't expect an answer as he began singing his brother to sleep. The lullaby was in Scotlands' own language, but England understood each word that came from his brothers mouth;

"A naoidhean bhig, cluinn mo ghuth

Mise ri d' thaobh, O mhaighdean bhan

Ar righinn oig, fas as faic

Do thir, dileas fhein

A ghrian a's a ghealaich, stuir sinn

Gu uair ar cliu 's ar gloire

Naoidhean bhig, ar righinn og

Mhaighdean uashaill bhan"

(Little baby, hear my voice

I'm beside you, O maiden fair

Our young Lady, grow and see

Your land, your own faithful land

Sun and moon, guide us

To the hour of our glory and honour

Little baby, our young Lady

Noble maiden fair)

Arthur never did understand why his brother called him a 'maiden fair' and a 'young lady', but at the time he didn't care or he was too tired to complain as he slowly differed off to sleep to the calming song and his brothers deep, soothing velvet like voice.

:: end flash back ::

The British man grimaced as he remembered the events which proceeded that loving memory, Rome had come to his lands, conquering his brothers and himself separating the small family of boys from one another for years on end, even going as far as to lock him in his house for centuries on end, until eventually he was free... but everything had changed, he had lost his old language, he had lost his bonds with his brothers, he had changed. Scotland saw these changes and fought against his brother for freedom, Ireland copied him, and succeeded resulting in his 'problem'... Arthur had broken his brothers, Cymru had sided with his twin in loyalty but not in heart.

Arthur had accepted this, he became stronger because of this, he never wanted to break a family again because of an invasion, because of weakness. He fought to be invincible, he became an empire; ruling over most of the world, finally gaining the family he had once lost, only to lose them all over again. the power he had gained to find a family ended up ruining his second chance at having that bond. he was about to give up on having that dream, a dream of having a family, when he got that call, the call from his brothers saying they were coming over.

' Albion, we are coming over... all of us... we need to talk' it was left by Cymru, his voice sounded nervous and lonely?. it was hard to tell back then but even that small sentence was enough to send Arthur into a mad dash of worry and excitement, would he have his family back? have they forgiven him? or are they going to hurt him? finally rid the world of him and his stupidity.

that was a day he wasn't likely to ever forget