Title: F is for FURY. Chapter 4: Tisiphone is the avenger of murder 4A /4.

Author: too_beauty

Pairing: Alexander & Hephaestion.

Rating: PG

Category: Historical AU.

Disclaimer: I don't know the people involved; A&H belonged to themselves and to History, if not Phai would be among us, living under my "protection".

Feedback: yes, please any kind of them will help me to improve my writing or leave it forever.

No beta, so all mistakes are mine.

This started as a one-shot and ended in the Fury Series, each chapter for each Fury, I really hope you enjoy this till the end, as it is not a typical plot for me.


*Present time*

Eight years had gone by after the "big fight"; Alexander was the king of the known world and his former lover was still by his side as his second in command, his Chiliarch to be exact.


*Flashback*

Two years after the "big fight", Alexander and Hephaestion settled down their differences once Hephaestion was back from his journey. The brunette had left the army immediately after it and he had travelled around the empire with Megara, enjoying for the first time all the places that had cost him most of his wounds and his young years.

The journey took them almost two years. And even though Hephaestion had a wonderful time with his childhood friend, he couldn't fool her; he had left his heart inside Alexander's chest, no matter how hard he tried to deny it.

Seeing his dear friend so miserable, Megara insisted on going back to Babylon; it was time Hephaestion got his heart and life back. It took them three months to locate the marching Army and they were quite surprised to discover that Alexander had hardly moved while they were gone.

Both friends were welcomed back warmly by most of the companions, who organized a small banquet at Ptolemy and Tais's house.

They were in the middle of the celebration when the voices suddenly died out. They looked at a very still king, who was standing at the door with a sheepish look in his two-coloured eyes.

Tais, being a woman accustomed to deal with men's swinging moods, approached the door and welcomed the blonde with a kind smile, inviting him to join the party.

Alexander stood in front of the newcomers and whispered a warm welcome. Megara answered with a hug and Hephaestion with a reverent "Thank you, Sire" and everybody in the room could listen to the king's heart shattering into a thousand pieces.

The joyful environment died out a little and Hephaestion could feel Alexander's eyes following him around the room. He knew he had to put Alexander's mind at peace but he was still hurt.

Alexander stayed for a while but when it was too hard for him to see Hephaestion so cheerful with others and so serious with him, he decided to go back to the palace. He knew who could help him get rid of his melancholy. He bid them health and left silently, not before sending a loving look towards Hephaestion.

Alexander went directly to this person's chamber and sat on his bed. His two-year-old heir Patroclus was peacefully sleeping with a tiny smile on his baby face. Alexander caressed the small back, feeling proud of the small human being in front of him. He really wanted to see his son awake so he could bask in those oceanic eyes, inherited from his grandfather, and a match to another pair of blue eyes that used to look at him with love years ago. And there, in the dark and alone, the king of the known world shed bitter tears of guilt and despair.

Some days after their return, Hephaestion and Megara, who was now sharing the brunette's house, received the visit of Ptolemy. The tall blonde sat down, feeling exhausted. Hephaestion was worried, his friend really looked tired, so he asked him if there was something he could help him with. Ptolemy covered his face with both hands and so he could hid his smile; if his plans worked fine, his friend would soon become part of the army again.

Ptolemy explained that they were having serious difficulties in finding new suppliers; the Army had now such a big amount of soldiers that it was quite difficult to provide them with good food. Apart from that, many previous suppliers had refused their products as soon as they had discovered that Hephaestion was no longer in charge. Most of them were afraid of not being paid because it had happened that some vicious generals had kept the money for themselves.

Hephaestion looked at his friend seriously but Ptolemy fanned his hand in a gesture of belittling the problem and asked Hephaestion to share with him more about his travelling experiences.

Even though Hephaestion told him about his travels, the older companion could see the wheels of Hephaestion's brain spinning, thinking for a quick solution to his problem.

Days went by and suddenly a delegation of merchants appeared in the palace asking for an audience with the supplies master. It happened that Alexander was walking by when he saw the men in his palace so he approached to find out what they were doing there.

The merchants greeted the king and told him that master Amyntoros had spoken to them and had given his word that they could go back to business with the Macedonian Army because no one was going to fail them again. Alexander nodded and led them to Ptolemy's desk.

The older blonde was reading a letter from Hephaestion who was anticipating him the merchants' visit and their desire to provide again with supplies on the promise of being paid in time.

Alexander looked at Ptolemy with a serious face and asked him to see him as soon as the meeting was over.

Two hours later, Ptolemy knocked the door of his king's chamber and he was received by Alexander and his stony voice. He demanded a direct answer: what was going on and why he had not been informed about the supplies problem.

Ptolemy retold his casual conversation with Hephaestion and he told him he had been quite surprised with the merchants' presence. He also showed him Hephaestion's letter, in it he had included more names and places to look for supplies.

Alexander's face softened a bit at the sight of his former lover's handwriting and a tiny butterfly caressed the pit of his stomach. If only he could get his Phai back and tell him how much he was missed and still loved.

He decided to send a thank you – letter to Hephaestion and he also included and invitation to have dinner at the palace that night if it was possible for him.

Hephaestion was more than astonished when he received the messenger, who was waiting for his reply. He thought about it for a while and answered with a single "yes".

When Helios was setting down, Hephaestion was still pacing his chamber; he wanted to look nice but at the same time, he didn't want to show that he had taken too much care of his appearance.

Megara was enjoying his friend's nervousness and she had been praying for Aphrodite's help so they could settle their differences. Both former lovers needed a closure.

Hephaestion entered the palace and after being saluted by the night watch, he was taken to the private dining room. Alexander was pacing along the place but froze in the spot as soon as the guard announced Hephaestion's presence.

Alexander walked towards his friend who bowed his still slender body slightly and a cracked "Joy to you, Sire" escaped from his lips. When the greeting was not returned, Hephaestion dared to lift his gaze and looked at Alexander, who had a painful expression in his face.

"You don't have to bow, Hephaestion, it is an informal dinner" said Alexander.

"But you are still the king" said Hephaestion putting his stress on king.

Alexander realized that he had made the first mistake and he really doubted things would be settled between them anytime soon.

"But you are my dearest friend, Phai" he added with a sheepish expression.

"Am I?" asked Hephaestion as if he was trying to get the real meaning of Alexander's words.

"You were, are and always will be" replied Alexander seriously.

"You could have fooled me anytime" said the brunette.

"I'm sorry, you don't know how deeply sorry I am"

"I'm sorry too. I shouldn't object the king's decision"

Alexander didn't want to go on exchanging these kind of words so he suggested having dinner.

Hephaestion discovered that all his favourite food was on display on the table and that there was no page to serve them. Alexander served him with great pleasure seeing how Hephaestion was enjoying every treat.

They kept the conversation to a minimum, but Alexander asked about his journey and his impressions about the territory and the people. When Hephaestion finished his retelling, Alexander suggested that he should write a book, including his maps and drawings. He also added that he would have the empire support in this new challenge. Hephaestion blushed deeply, even though all the nasty things that had happened between them, Alexander did really know him better than others did, because he had already begun writing "My journey around Alexander's empire".

They were sharing their dessert when a woman entered the dining room, she approached the king and announced that the little prince was restless and asking for his father. Alexander stood up immediately and, turning round, he asked Hephaestion to accompany him so he could meet his son. Hephaestion nodded, he couldn't utter a word, his throat had closed at the mere thought of the forgotten infant, one of his dreams he would never get and one of the few dreams that Alexander had achieved alone, without him.

Alexander entered his son's chamber and picked him up from his bed. The little blonde boy snuggled onto his father's chest but he suddenly realized that they weren't alone. He lifted his head from his resting place and looking at his father with very big eyes, he asked:

"Is he …?"

"Yes, he is, my son. He is back with us"

Hephaestion looked at them confused, how did the little prince know who he was? He looked back at them and heard a soft voice asking:

"Phaistion, hug Patroclus?"

Hephaestion looked at the little blonde, his chubby arms outstretched towards him, waiting for him to pick him up. He hesitantly got closer and took him in his arms; arms that were used to carrying swords, shields or horse reins but never something so fragile and precious.

The brunette was greeted with a sloppy and wet kiss on his cheek and tiny hands caressed his shaven face. A stray tear rolled down his face and a worried Patroclus dried it with his fingers, whispering.

"Phaistion, not cry, Phaistion happy. Phaistion with Patroclus"

And if Hephaestion might have any doubt about Alexander's repentance, it was erased by the little bundle in his arms.

*End of flashback*