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Alexander raised his eyebrow, returning the smile. He thought it might be another book or maybe a family heirloom but something about his lover's darkening eyes made him reconsider. He followed Hephaistion down the passage.

"Hephaistion, where's Juliana?" Gaius came running towards them.

Hephaistion caught his breath-he had been surprised- and smothered away the sudden feeling of being caught at the cookie jar. "She's downstairs, in the hall," he replied, his mouth feeling dry.

His godson ran off and Hephaistion turned to his lover, smiling seductively. He opened the door behind him, looking to be sure it was empty as they stepped into the room. He locked the door He wrapped an arm around Alexander's neck and kissed him lightly. Drawing back, he bit his lip, eyes sparkling," Undress me."

Alexander grinned, feeling his excitement course through his body, glad to obey his lover. He unclipped Hephaistion's chiton, letting it slide to the floor, and then removed his loincloth, nipping Hephaistion's neck. Hephaistion gasped but turned around, moving into the room. It was large and airy. A large bed stood on the far side, overlooking the gardens below.

"What room is this?" Alexander asked, following Hephaistion to the bed.

"It's a guest room for family but nobody really uses it." Hephaistion laid down on his back, letting Alexander see all of him," Come here."

Alexander climbed onto the bed, conscious of obeying everything Hephaistion said. He looked into Hephaistion sparking eyes and smiled; he was too in love to care.

Hephaistion sighed, contented, and reached up to run his hand through Alexander's hair. Their love-making had been sweet and intense. Alexander leaned down and pecked his lips,"You're amazing."

Hephaistion let out a laugh, noting Alexander's still murky eyes which were staring at him in wonder. "So are you," he said, feeling slightly uncomfortable.

Alexander got up and began dressing himself, glancing around the room even though it was locked. "I hope no-one heard us."

Hephaistion rolled his eye, stretching luxuriously, "And if they did? Everyone knows we're lovers now, we're allowed to have sex!"

They had been lovers for a week already. Alexander felt a thrill rush through him, staring at Hephaistion's beautiful body, not believing he had been inside it just a few minutes before, making it writhe and arch beneath it. He traced a circle on Hephaistion's abdomen, leaning down to kiss the spot. He watched as Hephaistion's gaze softened.

"What is it?"

"Why are you so eager to leave?" Hephaistion asked softly.

Alexander was taken aback," Surely you don't think I don't want to be with you? I just don't want your father or worse, your mother to catch us like this."

"I'm not ashamed, I just want to avoid trouble," he added quickly.

Hephaistion nodded and sat up, "You mean embarrassment? It's fine, I'd be embarrassed, too."

His face lit up in a wicked smile, "My godchildren would be even worse."

He dressed while Alexander attempted to straighten out the sheets, smiling, "How did you tell them about us?"

Hephaistion coloured a bit,"I didn't really. I just said we're very close now. Diana might accuse me of corrupting them."

Alexander laughed; the relationship with Diana was one of the first things he had been told about Hephaistion. They left the room, walking to the dining room.

Lucius was throwing a ball with his friend in the first courtyard. Hephaistion frowned as he walked along the colonnade, Alexander beside him. Lycania emerged from the dining room, scowling, "Lucius, put that ball away! I can hear it inside."

She turned to the friend and fixed a smile, "And perhaps it's time to go home."

Hephaistion bit his lip, sharing an amused glance with Alexander. Unfortunately, Lucius spotted him," Hephaistion, why's she being so mean?"

Hephaistion froze, "Maybe she's right, you really shouldn't play here, Lucius. But your friend's welcome to dinner if he's allowed."

Lycania shot him a puzzled look, as if it a dinner invitation was pointless. It was, anyway, as the friend excused himself, saying his mother would worry. Lucius stormed past Lycania, heading for the door.

Hephaistion followed him, "Don't you think you should have waited for Alexander to enter first?"

"Hephaistion-"Alexander began but was shushed by Hephaistion.

"It's etiquette, Alexander."

Lucius glared at his godfather but coloured. He said sincerely," I'm sorry, Alexander."

Alexander smiled and ushered him into the dining room. Laconike was seated inside, talking softly to Helen. Hephaistion swallowed, willing himself to be composed around the girl he had once so willingly slept with. They stood seeing Alexander and Laconike introduced Helen.

"We were talking off Ambrosia," Laconike said to Hephaistion as everyone sat.

Hephaistion nodded, "Are you staying for dinner, Helen?"

She nodded, a knowing expression gracing her features. Hephaistion nodded in return," I was just wondering."

"Who's Ambrosia?"Lucius asked.

Hephaistion laughed, "She's Kyros' friend."

"And a bit more," Helen whispered conspiratorially to Lucius. Everyone laughed.

"Shame, she looks horrible," Helen continued.

"I almost regret the things I said to her, but then I remember just who she slept with and I'm not sorry one bit," Laconike added.

Lycania frowned. Cassander and Philotas entered.

"Who did she sleep with?" Cassander asked.

Helen shrugged," The wrong people."

"That doesn't mean you should isolate her," Hephaistion replied, feeling an intense dislike for Helen.

"She's not isolated. She's just not our friend."

"Life's privilege, isn't it?" Hephaistion teased.

"Why are you so besotted with her anyway?"Laconike asked. "And where's everyone? I'm starving!"

Hephaistion was taken aback, "I wasn't aware I was besotted. I thought I'd just maybe pay attention to the one person who actually cares about my friend!"

"Don't you care?"

"Not enough to move in with him!"Hephaistion exclaimed. "And seeing as we're at caring, why didn't you say anything, Helen?"

Amyntor entered the room with Athene and Gaius. She faltered, "I didn't think he'd notice. She was with him all the time, I could not talk to him."

Hephaistion shook his head, " He was hurt, Helen."

"Well, at least he knows where he stands now," Athene said crisply. "Mother's dining out with Juliana and Marcus and Agrippina are already in bed."

"Ptolemy and them have gone out, too," Philotas added.

Athene nodded," May we start, father?"

Amyntor nodded, signalling the servants. Hephaistion glanced at Alexander who had remained silent. Alexander smiled at him and then addressed Helen, "How long have you and Laconike been friends?"

They looked at each other and giggled. "A long time!" Laconike shook her head.

"Since we were six," Helen grinned.

Amyntor groaned, "When they told me they wanted to be dancing girls and travel to Egypt. Or was it Babylon?"

"I think it was Babylon, sir," Helen laughed.

" I guess you would be disappointed, father, then, to learn that we still desire to be dancers."

"Oh, no, my child!" Amynor groaned, an amused expression of pain across his face. He turned to Philotas on his right, " I hope Parmenion does not have daughters like this!"

Philotas smiled, " No, sir, my sisters would marry well and have good children."

Hephaistion was tempted to tease Philotas but Laconike beat him, " Oh lucky King Philip. If Parmenion had daughters like me, he would not make it to the battlefield! I don't know how my father does it!"

"I can tell you," Lycania replied. "He simply ignores you!"

"Really, father is that true?" Laconike demanded, supposedly outraged.

Amyntor winked at her as Hephaistion replied, "Don't you know it by now? Otherwise you would've been disinherited for that time you substituted the flute girl at Kallas' party!"

They were all laughing hard already when Athene uncharacteristically quipped, " And people wonder why I'm my father's favourite daughter."

"Athene!" Lycania and Laconike exclaimed laughingly.

Amyntor coughed loudly, choking slightly " I am surprised you are trying to kill me now, Athene."

She poured her father some water, " Naturally, father. I would just have Hephaistion to kill then before I inherited the wealth."

"What?" Hephaistion was incredulous. "Is this why you tell me to sleep with my door unlocked?"

"Why else?" Helen grinned. "Did you think she'd surprise you with naked women in the middle of the night?"

Hephaistion laughed, ignoring the fact that the comment had come from Helen.

"Perhaps I might've asked one of them to kill him," Athene shrugged. "Not a bad idea, Helen."

"I'm surprised, Athene: since when do we agree with each other?"

"Since I'll give you one tenth of the wealth. Enough to start an academy of noble dancing girls."

Alexander was flabbergasted at the informality of the conversation. He felt like he was watching a show, the family's responses to each other were so quick; they were that comfortable with each other, even laughing about killing each other and sex-related issues. He tried and failed to imagine such a conversation with his family when he noticed Lucius. He had been laughing the whole time, his face was flushed and he was grinning, exhilirated.

Lycania had just promised to ally with Hephaistion against Athene and Laconike as their father was supposedly dead.

"Nah, we'll still just send a dancing girl to kill you. She'll be one of your friends, you'd never know, Hephaistion."

"Why would I sleep with anyone after my father's death?"

"To, you know, vent out a bit," Laconike winked at him.

Athene and their father spluttered. Hephaistion laughed,"She'd have to be very beautiful, then."

He glanced at Alexander, his eyes smiling.

"No, of course!" Helen laughed. "I'd do it myself!"

"Helen!" Laconike looked incredulous; Hephaistion doubted she knew that it had already happened.

"Well, you're his sister, so who is more beautiful than me?"

"Well, I can think of a few people,"Hephaistion considered. He caught Lucius' eye and winked.

"Please don't say Ambrosia," Helen rolled her eyes.

Hephaistion shrugged, "Well, now that you mention it..."

Helen widened her eyes, "I withdraw my offer! He wants to sleep with Ambrosia, she will not do the job properly. I think you'll have to resort to poison, Athene."

"It's already done," Athene said wickedly, pointing at Hephaistion's cup. "He'll be dead by tomorrow."

"Do you routinely plot each other's murders?" Alexander asked, grinning.

Hephaistion smirked at him, his eyes twinkling, " Naturally."

"We're greedy," Laconike quipped. "And never satisfied. What is a wealthy father when you could be wealthy yourself?"

Lycania giggled, " We sound shameless."

" This sounds dangerous," Philotas joked to Alexander. He was arrogant but could be good company.

"It's like a show!" Alexander mocked.

Everyone laughed. "We're all actors in this life*- grandfather always said that," Athene stated, staring at her plate as she smiled fondly. Amyntor squeezed her hand and then cleared his throat, " I think we should probably retire. Gaius and Lucius have, I think, had enough entertainment."

His nephews grinned at him. "We wouldn't mind hearing more," Lucius said cheekily.

Amyntor laughed, " We must save you from Laconike's bad example."

Laconike winked as she stood up, "Let me know if any of your friends have sisters wanting to be dancing girls."

"We teach free of charge," Helen added.

Amyntor bid them all goodnight, retreating to the second courtyard with Athene on his arm, muttering lazily about her grandfather's punishments for Laconike's behaviour.

"We're going to Anarxarchos, do you want to come?" Laconike asked.

Philotas and Cassander glanced at each other and then Alexander. Alexander shook his head," But you go."

Philotas and Cassander grinned, keen to follow Helen. "We'll just get our cloaks," Philotas said, heading towards the embassy rooms.

Lucius tugged on Hephaistion's chiton,"Will you read to me?"

Hephaistion smiled at him warmly, whispering back, "Of course. Why don't you go get changed so long?"

The boys said goodnight and then headed back inside, leaving Alexander, Lycania and Hephaistion waiting with Helen and Laconike.

"Well, it was lovely having you for dinner, Helen," Lycania acknowledged.

"Do you mean that?" Helen smiled.

"Yes," Lycania replied. "Thank you for coming and goodnight."

She kissed her brother and sister, smiling at Helen and Alexander as she left.

"Why don't we get kisses? Aren't you offended?" She looked to Alexander, tilting her head flirtaciously.

Alexander laughed. Hephaistion was staring at Helen intently. She met his eyes steadily, "I haven't seen you in forever."

Hephaistion caught his breath, quickly letting it out," Perhaps we just move in different circles."

"Last year, it seemed I saw you every day."

Hephaistion paused, hating her. "Things change."

"You shouldn't be bothered that I never spoke to Kyros; I never even spoke to you last year after everything that happened."

Hephaistion tensed, knowing she meant Heraklitos' death," There was nothing to speak about."

"You know what they said. I didn't know if it was the truth."

Alexander frowned. Laconike tensed, " I told you I knew nothing, Helen."

"So I'm asking your brother."

"Why now?" Laconike exclaimed. She glanced at Alexander and shook her head, " Your timing is wrong."

"I'll ask when I like," Helen rolled her eyes.

"Not when I tell you not to!" Laconike snapped.

"You can ask what you like; you know I won't answer," Hephaistion shrugged.

"And then you wonder when people gossip."

Hephaistion sighed and rolled his eyes,frustrated," I haven't come this far by telling people my life story whenever they asked it, Helen. Ah, here's Philotas, you'd best be going."

He kissed his sister as Helen left the house with Philotas and Cassander.

Laconike touched Alexander on the arm," I hope our conversation at dinner hasn't made you want to run away."

Alexander smiled, "Certainly not that conversation."

"Helen's a bitch. There's no other word. I'm ashamed to be her friend but then I remember I am, too," She smiled wryly as her brother laughed. " I'd best go."

Hephaistion smiled shyly at Alexander as his sister ran off. They walked into the second courtyard. "I said I'd read to Lucius," Hephaistion told Alexander." Shall I come to your room afterwards?"

Alexander shook his head."I like your room better," he grinned.

Hephaistion grinned back at him, "You have strange tastes."

"No, I have excellent taste. I mean, you're my lover," Alexander pulled Hephaistion to him.

Hephaistion laughed," But my room over an embassy room?"

"It's more personal, I can tell its yours."

Hephaistion looked deep into Alexander's eyes for a moment," Should I be worried?"

Alexander chuckled," I told you I'm obsessed with you."

He planted a quick kiss on Hephaistion's cheek, making Hephaistion smile, "Don't be long."

Hephaistion smiled and headed towards Lucius' room. They read one of Herakles' labours together, Hephaistion finishing as Lucius began drifting off to sleep. He kissed his head and put the labour to one side. In the circular playroom, Marcus' old wet nurse was chatting to a servant.

"We were on the last paragraph of the 8th labour, if I can't finish it tomorrow," he told her. She smiled." Health to you."

They greeted him back.