Aigai, Summer 336 B.C.E.

Alexander's PoV

Things like this always seem to happen in slow motion.

But then again I really don't have much to compare witnessing the death of my father to.

"Father!" I cried, clutching his shoulder.

Blood stained my hands and his cold eyes stared back at me.

My heart was pounding in my ears and I couldn't breathe right. I didn't know what to do and I could literally feel the panic take hold of my body.

The next thing I knew, Hephaistion had grabbed me to my feet and had pressed my father's crown down on my head.

He yelled something to the gathered masses about beholding their new king but I heard nothing of it.

The only thing that I was aware of at that moment in time was Hephaistion holding my hand, his other one shaking, resting low on my back.

He led me to my room that night. I can't remember for the life of me what happened before that. It was almost as if it wasn't even me inside my body. That it was someone else and I was just along for the ride and watching their life go on.

I quickly dismissed my guards and Hephaistion guided me to my bed, pushing me down so I was sitting.

"Alexander..." I could hear him but it was like he wasn't speaking to me. I couldn't understand what he was saying, although I raised my head to look at him.

His head was tilted to the side, dark eyes filled with fear and worry. His lips were raw from where he had bit them and the black under his eyes was smudged from crying. One hand was on my cheek, the other on my bare thigh, burning my flesh.

I looked right at him, my own gaze boring into his.

His thumb rubbed along my jaw and to my mouth, "Alexander, are you okay? Please..."

I wanted to tell him that no, I was not all right. I wasn't ready to be king and I would give anything to bring my father back. But I couldn't.

Instead I turned from him and crawled back further onto the bed and pulled him up with me.

He sat close across from me, his hand returning to my leg, rubbing gently, "Please say something." He urged softly.

No words would form themselves though.

Slowly, I reached out and touched his stubbled cheek. He sighed in what was probably relief and leaned into the caress; kissing my palm and covering the hand with his own.

I pulled him closer and he rose up onto his knees to kiss me softly.

His fingers wound themselves into my hair, holding me still as me pressed his lips all over my face.

My eyes filled with tears and I suddenly clutched him closer, pulling him onto my lap.

Without a word he situated himself on top of me, tightening his hard thighs around me. He proceeded to lean in and kiss me again, this time deep and full.

I closed my eyes as his tongue invaded my mouth and I groaned when his hand dropped down between us and cupped my growing arousal.

His hand slowly began to rub over the bulge between my legs and I kissed him harder before pulling back and whispered to him, "Hephaistion..."

He pulled back instantly and withdrew his hand, placing it on my chest, "Alexander, talk to me."

"I need you." I rasped against his mouth before kissing it again. His lips are addicting.

But before I could really appreciate his full lips pressed against mine, he was climbing off of me and pushing me backwards.

A moment later, he was laying beside me, leg draped over mine, and he kissed me briefly, "What do you need?"

By the gods I needed so many things from him that I just didn't know where to start. I wanted to touch him, kiss him, feel his hands on me, "Everything."

I rolled him onto his back and climbed on top of him, situating myself down on my heels, legs aside his waist. My hands ran into his hair and I leaned down to kiss him.

When my eyes opened to meet his he kept my head down near his so he breathed across my lips, "Take me."

Hephaistion's PoV

A moment later, he was kissing me harshly, with a desperate need I hadn't felt with him in months.

"I love you." He gasped against my mouth, "I love you."

I tightened my arms around him and returned the fiery kiss he was bestowing upon me.

"I love you too." I told him quietly as he stripped the both of us of our clothes.

He looked me over, hands roaming over my skin, feeling my muscles twitch under his fingers.

He seemed lost for a moment and I reached up, touching his smooth cheek, "Take me."

It took him only a moment to return to himself. He shifted quickly, pushing my legs apart, keeping them bent at the knees and spread wide as he positioned himself between them.

Two of his fingers slid into my mouth and I wound my tongue around them, soaking them.

He groaned harshly and instantly his lips were on mine and he was shifting again to snake his hand down between us.

I sucked in a breath when he began to open me up. It had been a while since we had done it this way.

I know with Alexander's attitude and simply being who he is, everyone who sees us automatically assumes that I lie beneath him during our almost nightly encounters but that was rarely the case.

Alexander is an incredibly passionate man but since our first night together he has preferred to let me take the lead.

I willing trade him though, whenever he wishes to be inside me.

It's obvious that tonight he needs to be there. On top of me and in control as he had lost every measure of control he had had before today.

I bit down hard on his shoulder as he pressed himself inside me, sliding in hard and full to the hilt. I groaned in pain as I felt myself stretch to accommodate him.

He stopped when his damp hips were pressed against mine, breathing roughly against my neck.

"Move." I hissed in his ear, pushing my hips up.

He moaned at the movement and drew back quickly before pushing in just as fast.

I cried out as my muscles were forced open wide without much warning.

He continued to pump in and out of me harshly and I had to bite my raw lips to keep from crying out at the pain of it.

But I voiced nothing and held him tightly, wrapping my legs around his waist to open myself up further as he continued to thrust viciously.

"Alexander..." I gasped when he kissed and bit at my pulse.

His mouth was pressed back to mine quickly and his tongue pushed between my lips.

Suddenly he struck that spot inside me that made me see stars. My erection jumped between our stomachs and suddenly our coupling didn't hurt anymore.

I arched my back, trying to pull him deeper inside me and he moaned, sucking hard on my neck.

I pressed my head into the pillow as my whole body shifted from the force of his thrusts.

Turning my head I caught his mouth with mine and ran my fingers through his hair, pulling slightly at the curled blonde stands.

He groaned and thrust hard twice more before exploding suddenly inside me.

I cried out at the warm sensation that filled my stomach as he let go inside me. My cry was intensified as he grabbed my aching erection and pulled quickly.

I didn't even last a minute before I came, covering his hand and stomach.

He collapsed against me, pulling out and resting on my chest.

I kissed his mouth softly as I held him both in my arms and between my soaked thighs.

"I love you." He whispered softly in my ear, kissing the lobe.

I nodded slightly, stroking back his soft, damp hair, "I love you too."

It was a long time later, after I had settled back against the headboard with Alexander leaning against me, head resting on my shoulder, that we spoke again.

"I'm sorry." I said quietly, caressing his heated cheek.

He turned his face into my hand, "For?"

"For crowning you." I licked my lips and turned away briefly, "Forgive me. It was not my place."

He pushed up and our eyes met. He stared at me, as if unable to believe what he was hearing.

When his eyes began to tear up I tried not to look at them. But there was no where else to look.

And I wanted to feel his pain, to see it. I needed to feel what he was feeling because I didn't want him to be alone in this.

When I pledged him my heart I pledged him my life.

We shared everything and I would not turn from him when he needed me most.

Before I realized that he had moved, he had turned so he was facing me, on his knees and kissed me roughly.

I didn't have a chance to respond before he broke away, pressing his forehead to mine. "I would not have had it any other way." He rasped, red eyes close to overflowing with tears, his hands grasping the sides of my face.

I said nothing as I smoothed back his hair. Slowly and his face contracted, trying his damnedest not to cry; his thumbs gently rubbing the stubble on my chin.

Leaning closer, I wrapped an arm around his neck, pulling him in to me and placing a kiss on his forehead.

And suddenly it was too much for him. He grabbed me tightly, pressing his face into my neck and sobbed.

My throat was tight and my own eyes were filling rapidly. I closed them against my tears, I had to be strong for him. But I knew that there was nothing I could really do. Nothing that I could say would bring his father back.

There was no action in the known world that could change the fact that Alexander... my Alexander, was now king.