"Xander, look," as he and Hephaestion were cleaning up from breakfast.

Darko was rolling on the carpet in the living room, sucking contently on his toes.

"Our little babe is growing up," Alexander sighed, standing against the table, his arms crossed loosely over his chest as he watched his son.

"Don't say that!" Hephaestion scolded. Alexander looked at his husband to see tears in his eyes as he watched his babe.

"Come here," Alexander took his lover into his arms and Hephaestion began to cry against his shoulder.

"Was I not here? Was I a bad mother?"

"Why would you say that? You are a fantastic mother."

"Then why don't I remember where the time went?"

"Because your entire world is that child in there. You love him so much that you did not notice the time as it passed by. And I assure you, that is how it should be."

"It is?"

"It is. I promise you."

"C-can I go to him?"

"You don't need my permission, Love. I will finish up here."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Go."

"Okay... Darling," hearing his mother's voice, Darko looked at him and squealed happily, reaching with drool-covered fingers for his mother, but Hephaestion didn't mind.

"What are you doing, Darling? Are you having fun?" as Hephaestion took his child onto his lap, Alexander saw his son sit up straight on his own, telling him, and most likely Hephaestion, that a major change had taken place and they had blinked and missed it completely.