AN: I know this is a day late for Jared's birthday, but my Document Manager wasn't accepting it for some reason last night. Anyway, I've been questioning my own gender lately and writing this helped reassure me. I hope you all enjoy it! Happy belated birthday, Jared!
Hephaestion was cleaning up the apartment when Alexander walked in the front door, shaking the snow from his hooded jacket as he smiled at his partner.
"Good evening, my Love. How is my-?" he paused, unsure of the pronouns he should use.
"Your over-studied, exhausted, and hungry boyfriend is happy that you are home, my dear Alexander," Hephaestion said with a peck on the lips, "Why did the magazine call you in today? You told me you requested the day off. I don't like staying home alone on my birthday when I could be with you instead."
"I know, my love, I know, but all the files got corrupted somehow and Helen called me in to help fix it. I'm sorry. I'm here now, and all yours." Peritas barked just then, interrupting their kissing on the living room couch.
Laughing gave way to a relieved sigh from Hephaestion, "Good. I missed you."
"I missed you, Dearest. Now, before we decide on dinner, I have something for you," he got up off the couch to go to where he had hung his coat by the front door.
"Is it more kisses?" Hephaestion joked, laughing as Alexander rolled his eyes at him and Peritas jumped up to take the space Alexander had just vacated.
"You can get those whenever you wish, my handsome Phai," Alexander walked back over to him, shooing the dog down from the couch before taking the now empty spot and turning to his lover.
"Phai, I know you've been questioning your gender a lot these past few weeks, and how much stress and anxiety that gives you, and I just want to say that no matter who you are or what you find as you search for yourself, I will always love you, and it doesn't matter if, after finding yourself, you decide that we can no longer be together. I will always love you. Never doubt that."
"Idiot, you think my questioning my gender will make me give you up? No, Alexander. As great of a dork as you are, you are stuck with me. Now, my gift. That big, long speech with no gift, seriously?" Hephaestion poked fun at his boyfriend.
"You know how I am, Love. Alright, alright, here," he produced a blue box about the size of his palm with a blue ribbon tied around it and presented it to his eager love.
Hephaestion giggled as he set the box in his lap, untying the ribbon carefully. As he lifted the box's lid to reveal what was inside, however, he went quiet, stunned.
"Oh… Alexander… It's- it's beautiful…" Reaching into the box with the gentlest of fingers, he pulled the gift free of it's safe place and held it up to look at it. In his hand was a chandelier necklace with a miniature portrait of Alexander on each layer, each portrait surrounded by a circle of blue, pink, and white stones, "But, why three?"
"They are detachable, so that you can wear whatever gender you are feeling at the moment, or all of them if you so wish. This way you can always have me close to your heart and know that I will love you forever, no matter what. Happy birthday, my dearest love."