It was two months before they were absolutely sure. But as soon as the doctor confirmed the pregnancy, Hephaestion began to contemplate ways to get rid of it. As soon as Lutfi realized this, he kept everything, sharp objects and dangerous herbs, out of Hephaestion's reach.

"I DON'T WANT IT!" finally, one day, at the beginning his third month, Hephaestion just snapped, "DARIUS DID THIS TO ME, AND BY THE GODS, I HOPE ALEXANDER KILLS HIM FOR IT!" he stormed out the door, the guards too frightened of what they assumed was hormone-fueled anger to stop him.

"Where are you going?" Lutfi called from the doorway.

"OUT FOR A RIDE! YA!" the horse he had mounted took off, heading west, toward Alexander.

By nightfall, Hephaestion had found the Macedonian camp. Ptolemy, who was on watch for him, saw him and rushed to wake Alexander. Hephaestion was then helped down from his horse by two boys. Once standing, Hephaestion felt nauseated and threw up into the sand.

"Phaistion?" he heard Alexander's voice before he saw him.

"Xander!" and suddenly they were in each other's arms.

"Gods, you gave me a scare!" Alexander whispered, "How are you, are you all right? They didn't hurt you did they?"

Hephaestion went very quiet and looked down in the direction of his belly, barely visible to the outside world.

"What is it?" at his lover's silence, fear made Alexander's voice catch in his throat, "Phai, what happened?" when the man finally raised his head and Alexander saw tears shimmering in his blue eyes.

"Can we talk privately? Please?"

"Of course, Love," they walked to Alexander's tent, through the throng of soldiers that had gathered, "We are not to be disturbed!" and then the tent's flap dropped and they were alone. Alexander took time to secure the flap to ensure their privacy, and when he turned, he found Hephaestion naked. Hephaestion's body language of knees pulled up to his chest and head down did not register in Alexander's mind as he smirked, "Well, isn't this a surprise..."

He sauntered over, and put a hand on Hephaestion's knee. Hephaestion, frightened at the action, scrambled to get away and did not turn back to his shocked king until he was at the other end of the tent.

"My king..." he swallowed visibly, his breath coming quick, "I am sorry, but I would rather you not touch me like that..."

"You never had qualms with it before."

"Yes, well, a lot has happened recently..."

"Does this have to do with Darius?" Alexander watched as his love cringed at the name, "I suppose I have my answer."

"I must show you something, but you must promise to hear me out."

"All right," Alexander sat down on a cushion, his entire attention on the man in front of him.

Hephaestion stood slowly, exposing his belly.

Alexander saw the small bulge, "Is that-?"

Hephaestion's tears finally cascaded down his cheeks as he nodded. He cringed, ready for Alexander's famous temper to flare. When it did not, he opened his eyes to see tears in Alexander's eyes and a watery smile on the man's face.

"Xander-"

"It's unbelivable... our own little prince..." When Alexander came close to kneel at his belly, Hephaestion backed away a few steps.

"It is not what you think. This is not our child."

Alexander frowned, confused, "What do you mean?"

"It is Darius'. I-" as Hephaestion watched, Alexander's face contorted in anger.

"DARIUS? YOU LAID WITH DARIUS? MY ENEMY! HOW DARE YOU!" he roared.

"It is not as it seems!"

"HOW LONG?"

"Alexander-"

But Alexander's anger had consumed him, and he was no longer listening, "How long have you been his whore?" his voice had dropped to a menacing whisper.

"It is not-" Hephaestion tried again.

"HOW. LONG. HAVE. YOU. BEEN. HIS. WHORE?!" he screamed.

"I have not-"

"DO NOT LIE TO ME! THE EVIDENCE IS THERE, IN YOUR BELLY!" He took some deep breaths, "You are henceforth banished from this camp and my court, consider your rank as second-in-command terminated as of now. I never want to set eyes on you again."

In tears, Hephaestion pushed past Alexander and tore open the tent flap, racing down to where the horses were kept. In his upset state, he could not mount, and so one of the boys had to aid him. As soon as he was firmly in the saddle, he raced away, tears and kicked-up sand blurring his vision.

He knew only one thing for certain. He would keep this child, no matter what.