A/N: Hello, hello! Here we have the second chapter. As you can see, this story is based on the film, not history, as no one has ever come back to tell us what might have actually happened. I am just enjoying writing Hephaestion and Alexander (along with a host of others) and throwing them into very difficult and complex situations.

A/N 2: At this point in history, the calendar in use was still the Roman calendar, and would remain so for roughly another 200 years. So, the date you see further into the chapter is correct. Any characters that you do not recognize from either the film or the history books (such as Heshaylae and the children) are mine, please ask before using for your own devices. Enjoy, and please feel free to leave a review, the door is always open.

ooOoo

Well Mama told me, when I was young. Said sit beside me, my only son. Listen closely, to what I say, and if you do this, it'll help you, some sunny day. Oh take your time, don't live too fast. Troubles will come, and they will pass. You'll find a woman, oh yeah, and you'll find love, and don't forget there is a someone, up above.

Simple Man- Shinedown

ooOoo

I do not recall if my mother had ever said such a thing to me, or if it was a dream I had. But then again dreams are sent from the Gods. Many times they are troubling and misleading, but in other times they are meant to tell us something. For example, as soon as Alexander was old enough to attend meetings on his father's behalf, Philip took another wife.

This angered both Alexander and his mother greatly, though I was barely concerned with Olympias. She was not my mother, and therefore meant very little to me. Never mind that she was Alexander's mother and therefore influenced a great deal of what he did. I had once been told that we can never escape our mother, and in Alexander's case, that was the absolute truth.

Nevertheless, I was at this wedding, as Alexander had asked of me. Macedonian weddings are known to have copious and overgenerous amounts of wine flow and, more often than not, a brawl can and will break out. Things seemed fairly well maintained, until the bride's uncle Attalus hurled out the most horrid insult I'd ever heard. I've heard worse since then, but at that point, I had not.

I remember Alexander, absolutely enraged, standing up and throwing a wine goblet at the man.

"What do you take me for then, you son of a dog?"

Attalus threw his goblet back, very narrowly missing Alexander. I, not content to allow such a thing to happen, ran and threw myself into the middle of the brawl, all the while Philip yelling that it was his wedding, and not some public brawl. Once we'd broken apart, he continued shouting that Alexander had insulted him, and must apologize before Alexander dishonoured him.

"You say this in defense of a man who called my mother a whore and me a bastard? And I dishonour you?"

Once Alexander insisted he would not apologize to someone who was surely no kinsman of his, and that Philip should choose his relatives more carefully, he turned to leave, and I with him. But not before Philip drew his sword, and, drunk, tripped, sprawling on the floor.

"And here is the man who plans to lead you from Greece to Asia! He cannot even make it from one couch to the next!"

"Get out!" Philip shouted. "Get out! You're banished!" I could almost swear I heard Philip choke back a sob. "You're no son of mine!"

Whatever else he said, we did not stay to hear it. Alexander and I retreated to his room, where he flopped back on the end and sighed.

"This is the wine talking, Alexander," I assured him, sitting down beside him and putting a hand on his shoulder. "Whatever your father says while drunk, he will forget by morning. A drunken sod now, a completely different man in the morning. This is how he has always been. Why does it seem so much more now?"

"Because I am not of pure blood," Alexander murmured, sitting up and pulling me to him. "I am half-Macedonian, not full."

"You are still his son, your mother is still his wife. You are still heir to the throne." I pulled whatever I could from thin air in an attempt to pacify him.

"Damn it, Hephaestion, that no longer matters!" he nearly shouted against my shoulder. "Whatever sons he may have with Eurydice would now be his successors! I am left with nothing. Even you have your wife, you do not need me!"

It was now that I realized Alexander was more dependent on me than I had known before. He was right, I did have Heshaylae, but only to please both my father and hers had I married her. I loved her as much as I could, which admittedly was not enough. In fact, there were times where I'm sure I downright neglected her in favour of Alexander, simply because Alexander needs me that much more.

But now, after the wedding, I knew and understood that the only way for Alexander to be able to function properly would be to sleep. There was nothing to be accomplished tonight, other than anarchy if he were to return to the festivities. Instead, because he was so distraught, I would stay with him.

Later, as we lay curled together atop his bed, he tapped my hand wrapped around his waist.

"Phae?" he whispered.

He had not called me Phae since we were children. In fact, only Shaye (remember I said I rarely call her Heshaylae) had since taken to calling me Phae, since I had my own name for her.

Why did I constantly think of her while with Alexander?

"What, Alexander?" I whispered back, keeping my eyes closed.

"Are you proud of me?"

What kind of a question was that?

"Yes Alexander," I answered, shifting so that he might know that I was too tired to engage in any sort of conversation.

"I want you to think about it, Hephaestion," he prodded, not allowing me a moment's rest. "Do not tell me you are simply because I am Prince of Macedonia, that title means nothing to me."

Being far too tired to even attempt a coherent sentence, I rolled over and faced the other wall. I would have gotten up and left, but I simply had no strength. I also had no other option. Alexander needed me there.

I slept fitfully.

When Apollo sent the sun over the horizon the next morning, a young page running through the hallways awakened me, looking for Alexander. As far as I knew Philip had not wished to know where he and Olympias had planned to go, but Olympias had already left. Alexander and I had planned to leave as soon as possible. If Philip had known we were still there, I am not sure what would have happened. I am still not sure if Philip had forgotten what he had said, but from what Alexander told me, just before Philip's death, Philip had told him that if he ever insulted him again, he'd run his spear through him, never mind that Alexander was his son.

As I remember it, before this young page even had an idea of us still residing there, Alexander and I fled. I, home to Shaye, and he off toward his mother's brother's home. After that, I did not see him for quite a while. I do not remember seeing him again before the day his father was murdered.

And less than two months after that, Shaye told me she was sure she was carrying two in the womb. One child, she told me, she could handle, but not two, and damn my soul to Hades for ever making love to her and getting her into such a situation.

ooOoo

I can still see Shaye's face in my mind's eye, though we left Macedon well over seven months ago. Alexander had been preoccupied with taking whatever town that resisted him. It had been prophesied by the Oracle at Siwa that Alexander would be great. And to Alexander himself, this meant that he would be better than his father had ever been. This also meant that in order to accomplish this, he would make his way from Macedonia and into Asia, where we would turn barbarian into civilized Greek under Alexander's rule. Of course, this could only happen if Alexander had complete control of every town and city in between. Quite frankly, we moved so often I was more than slightly surprised to see a letter get to me.

Unfolding this letter that had a seal I did not recognize, my eyes went wide as I read. Shaye could not write, as many people could not, so I understood this was not her handwriting. From the inflection in the wording and tone of the letter I knew it could be from no other.

14th October 329

My dearest Hephaestion,

I write to you from our home, my own mother sitting beside me. She does not let me sleep alone, saying that it is dangerous. She has even asked your father if he could find someone to stand outside the doors as often as possible. Since I am your wife, your father hesitated only for a moment. It seems that I am not considered important enough for immediate protection. But please do not worry yourself. These are dangerous times since you left, but we are not in immediate danger. In fact, I am not writing to you to inform you only of this. I write to tell you something else entirely.

It is the evening on the 14th October, as you can see from the date undoubtedly written at the top of this page. I do not know where you may be now, as it has been a very long seven months since I have seen you. I do not know how this will reach you, but those who have remained here have told me that anything I wish to send to you or the King will be sealed under an unrecognizable seal and sent in the strictest confidence.

Oh dear, I must be worrying you. I am so sorry, my love. Please do not think harshly of me. I am so weak and tired now that I am surprised I am able to talk. For you see, earlier today, your son and daughter were born to me. It was a very hard labour, at least seventeen hours of the most horrible pain I have ever experienced. The physician who assisted me told me that it was not uncommon for twins to take longer, as they were competing for the right to come forth first. I am sure you are wondering which of them won. Your son, Sevastianos, arrived precisely ten minutes before your daughter, Melissa. Both are strong and healthy, the physician telling me it is a miracle that I survived their birth.

If you would, I ask you this, please tell my father that he has two grandchildren, and that they are strong and healthy. Please tell him that I am alive, and that I eagerly await your return.

Remember this above all else, Hephaestion. Though you are not here, you are still my husband, and I love you more than I can express in a letter written by a scribe. I hope you will return to me soon, as I cannot bear to know that I am not there with you.

All my love,

Heshaylae

In truth I am surprised that I did not feel more joy than fear at that very moment. If Shaye and the children were alone with only my father for protection, I could not bear to think what could possibly befall them. My father was an old man by this point, he would not be able to protect them forever. But perhaps it would not be needed forever, for I did not know when we would return, if we returned at all. I understand that sentence seems contradictory, but at the time it made complete sense.

But now, I had no choice but to find Cleitus as soon as possible, and tell him what Shaye had told me. No matter if neither of us wanted to speak, as it was we could not stand to be in the same room together. Now we were now always going to have something to do with each other, thanks to our association through her. I am also sure that Shaye would want him to know from me if she could not deliver the news herself.

I found Cleitus sitting alone, staring at a piece of parchment. I have no idea what could be written there, but I do not believe he was reading it. For whatever reason, he looked worried. Cleitus was the most confident person I had ever met, aside from Alexander. I do not believe I had ever seen him waiver.

"Cleitus…" I sat across from him.

Looking up, he rolled his eyes.

"What do you want?"

"I've had news from home."

He grunted.

"From Shaye…"

At the mention of his daughter's name, I had his full and complete attention. I knew from the moment I had married her that Cleitus would never fully give her to me. She would always be his in some capacity.

"She writes to tell me you have two grandchildren," I pushed the letter out toward him, a silent offer to read it if he wished.

His jaw dropped, his mouth slowly curling into an elated smile. He got up, walked round the table, and hugged me.

"She is alive?"

"Indeed. She bid me tell you so."

If he did not hate me so I wonder if he would have kissed me.

"Have you said anything to Alexander?"

"No. To you first."

I have never seen such joy in the man's face. Truly, I have not. At this point I am not sure he cares about the children so much as knowing that Shaye is indeed, alive. He let go of me, and sat back down, picking up the parchment to examine it.

"What did she call them?"

"The boy was born first, she called him Sevastianos."

"You're sure there were two?"

"Cleitus, by Athena there is no way Shaye could have been as large as she was without there being more than one in the womb."

"And the other child?"

"A girl. She is called Melissa."

"After the nymph who cared for Zeus?"

"I suppose so. Do you know of any other Melissa?"

"No, no I do not," he looked from the letter back to me. "You're absolutely sure Shaye is alive? Delivering twins as she did could have easily killed her."

By this point I realized he was not reading the letter at all, instead looking to me for reassurance that she was alive. After all, it was my fault that she had suffered so.

"Yes, I am absolutely sure."

He let out a breath I did not realize he had been holding.

As we continued our conversation (admittedly the first civil conservation we had shared since I'd married Shaye), we decided to keep the birth of the twins a secret from Alexander for as long as possible. After all, many of the men had families whom they had left behind, but for me to have a wife and not only a son but a daughter as well to distract me from my duty as one of Alexander's bodyguards… Zeus be with me.

Regrouping, Cleitus and I went our separate ways, absolutely stunned at what Shaye had written.

Little did I know it was to be our undoing.