hello! here is the last chapter, thank you very much for the feedback you sent! It's very appreciated.
Hope you will enjoy it :)
Title: Three's a crowd 3/3
Authors : veronique
Email address:kyomine2002yahoo.fr
Category: Comedy romance
Pairing: Alexander/Hephaistion slash
Date:16/06/2005
Feedback: please, but if you don't like it, be constructive , I don't want to read sarcasm or snarks.
Archive: if you want I'm okay
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I don't own them. They're characters belonging to Warner Brothers Pictures, to Oliver Stone, to my imagination, and to the ages. This is a work of a fan, done for no remuneration save the satisfaction of the work.
Special thanks to my beta Rothalion .
Summary: Alexander 's 1 5th birthday is soon but Hephaistion's best friend from Athens is visiting.
Three's a crowd 3/3
The next morning, Alexander returned to Hephaistion's house very early. He did not want to miss one moment with Hephaistion and allow Kallos to spend too much time with the love of his life. Hephaistion's mother told him they were in his son's bedroom and Alexander decided to join them. He was sure they were already awake and he didn't even think to knock before enter. After all he never had knocked in the past. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Hephaistion and Kallos still asleep in the same bed.
Did they? Were they? Questions were rushing through his mind as his anger grew. Furious he yelled rudely.
«WAKE UP"
Hephaistion and Kallos, startled and jumped in the bed, awakened and surprised by the loud voice. They stared at Alexander who couldn't hide the fact that he was disappointed.
"I'll be with your mother, waiting." He said curtly and with an air of authority that Hephaistion did not appreciate and that Kallos found to be arrogant and rude. The harsh words spoken he turned back and quickly left the room. Just as he closed the door it was reopened quickly by a confused and panic stricken Hephaistion.
"Wait! Alexander."
Hephaistion didn't hesitate when he realized Alexander was upset and left the room, he jumped from his bed and rushed towards the door where his friend had disappeared.
Alexander stopped and looked at Hephaistion who was out of breath.
«It's.. It's not.. What you think Alexander, we didn't do anything, we aren't..."
Alexander smiled, he was touched by Hephaistion's confusion and panic. He approached his best friend and took his right hand in his and as tenderly as he could he said, "I believe you."
Hephaistion felt suddenly uneasy, why had he reacted like this, after all he didn't have to justify himself to Alexander. He blamed his stupid reaction to what Kallos had said to him the previous night. He didn't know what to say anymore, now Alexander might think he was afraid that he thought that he could be Kallo's lover. He was very embarrassed by the situation and he didn't like feeling this out of control. Lost in his thoughts he didn't notice that Alexander who was moving close to him, ready to kiss him and he said.
"I have to go to, ah well you know, relieve myself Alexander. I have an emergency." Flustered, Hephaistion left without realizing that Alexander was close to kissing him.
Alexander was stunned by Hephaistion's reaction and didn't know what to think about it. Did Hephaistion not want to be kissed? Or had Hephaistion just not noticed? Alexander had his doubts and he wasn't very happy. The situation was getting too complicated
Hephaistion took a cold bath, completely confused by the situation. why had Kallos talked to him about love? Why did his friend have to confuse him and make him question his feelings?
Alexander decided that he wanted to know more about Kallos' intentions. As he re-entered the room Kallos was surprised again. He thought that prince was really acting like he owned the whole house. It seemed to Kallos that Alexander had never learned to knock.
"Good morning." Said Kallos while still in the bed, yawning.
Alexander crossed his arms and then asked, his voice terse trying to show that he was taking things seriously.
"What do you want from Hephaistion?"
Kallos Frowned . "What do you mean?"
"Well, clearly since you arrived you want him to have eyes only for you!" said the prince rudely.
"A friend of Man" recalled kallos when he stood up from the bed. At the moment it was hard to believe, the young prince was so bold.
"I thought it was you who wanted him to have only eyes for you." he countered without breaking the eye contact with Alexander.
Alexander took a deep breathe. "I care about him. I won't let you take him away from me."
Kallos laughed a little, obviously the prince had written a novel in his mind about him being his rival because he didn't recalled behaving as though he was flirting with Hephaistion. But he could recall the other way around quite clearly.
«And what if it's what he wants?" taunted Kallos wanting to push the prince as far as he could but instead Alexander showed no anger. He sighed and said.
"If it's what makes him happy, then...I .. he is ..." his voice broke because Alexander felt a sudden despair inside his chest. "Yours." he finally whispered.
Kallos smiled. "We are like brothers Alexander, He doesn't have such feelings for me, it was just a what if question."
Alexander seemed to be alive again when he heard Kallos words. "Do you love him?" Asked Alexander.
Kallos grinned , "I won't answer you Alexander, that is non of your business."
"You love him?" asked Kallos
"Yes! I never felt something so strong for someone. He is so different than the others, he is honest, he believes in me, he doesn't want to make me a different person, he is caring, kind, he gave me strength, I feel we belong together like Achilles and Patroclos. I never thought I could find my own Patroclus, Kallos, because I thought the only thing people would ever see in me is the prince I am. But not Hephaistion, he never hesitated to argue with me, he never let me win, he believes in my dream, He makes me feel alive, he is pure, I will follow him to death if he asks me."
Kallos was in awe in front of so much passion. He suddenly understood what Hephaistion told to him about Alexander.
"What a drama person you are my Prince! Follow him to death! Achilles and Patroclos." Kallos said surprised and awed by the admission but he wasn't mocking the Prince.
"I'd do it!" said Alexander fiercely.
Kallos smiled again tenderly. They were so different but he could see how the difference was in fact good as if it worked at completing them and in a strange way how they were in fact so alike.
"I want to draw today! I promised Hephaistion, I'd draw him, do you know a good sight we could go?"
Alexander frowned. He just didn't know what to think about Kallos exactly. Did he want to win Hephaistion? The fact that he didn't answer his question about his feelings for Hephaistion upset him a lot.
"I could think of one, it has a beautiful waterfall."
"Good , we will all go. May I dress now, alone?"
Alexander nodded and left.
A couple of hours later, they had arrived near a lovely waterfall. They all sat down and Kallos asked to Hephaistion to take a simple pose under a tree.
"You will be perfect there." Promised Kallos, «just relax.»
"I will draw you too." said Alexander suddenly because he was still feeling as if he was in a competition with Kallos for Hephaistion's attentions.
Hephaistion's eyes grew wide. " You draw too?"
"Well, My mother said I am good at it." Replied Alexander. He wanted to draw a perfect Hephaistion showing all his love in the portrait. The picture would be visual representation of their perfect love.
Kallos smiled and the talented boy began. Two hours passed and if Kallos was very calm and silent it Alexander was the opposite. He was agitated, he kept sighing, and laughing. On at least four occasions he'd torn up the sketch and began again.
For Hephaistion it was a quite show to see it and how different he was from Kallos.
"Don't move Heph." Warned Kallos "be patient, I'm almost done."
Alexander frowned at the news, he had some troubles with Hephaistion's nose so he sped up.
30 minutes later, Kallos and Alexander claimed they were done. Hephaistion was quite curious and he went to see Kallos' drawing first. Alexander came close to see the portrait and like Hephaistion was in awe in front of the master piece.
When Hephaistion asked Alexander to show his draw, suddenly Alexander shrugged and said, "Well, no, it's not nearly as good as his.. I messed up." and held closed the drawing he had done his disappointment plain on his face.
Hephaistion who wanted to see Alexander's drawing didn't give up.
"Come on Alexander, I want to see it!"
"It's not good Hephaistion just forget about it."
"It doesn't matter, show me, please, I won't laugh, show me, or will be forced to believe that you sketched something horrible."
"Hey! It's not that horrible, it just doesn't do you justice like Kallos' drawing!" Alexander defended.
"Kallos is in a drawing school, it can't be as good but it doesn't matter show me!" begged Hephaistion.
Alexander gave up and showed them his drawing.
"It's not that bad" said Kallos " you messed up big time on his nose but we can still see it's Hephaistion that you've drawn you drawn."
Alexander looked up at Hephaistion who was still looking the drawing.
Hephaistion smiled and looked back at Alexander.
"I'm sorry, you are so much more beautiful than I drew you!" Apologized Alexander.
Hephaistion was so touched by all Alexander's effort to draw him. It wasn't perfect but far from that. Kallos had been very kind when he said it wasn't that bad.
"Your mother was being quite kind when she told you that you draw well Alexander. She muse wanted to please you!
Kallos was shocked, it seemed to him a cruel comment on Hephaistion's part. The prince had tried his best.
"I guess, drawing is not your skill Alexander.»
Alexander smiled a little, sometimes hearing the truth was just so hard, he wanted to show to Hephaistion his love by the draw but it was so miserable. Then Alexander felt strong arms wrapping around him. He realized that Hephaistion was holding him tightly.
"Thank you, Alexander, I love it."
Hephaistion broke the embrace and Alexander was very confused.
" I thought you disliked it." He asked bewildered.
"You put your heart in this drawing Alexander and I Love y..." his tongue slipped and in a second he continued "I so love it for that reason."
Alexander held him back happily and kissed him on the cheek. When Hephaistion realized he almost had said " I love you to Alexander."
It was time now time to go back to Hephaistion's home, the evening would be upon them soon.
They took their time coming back. Alexander was a little behind because he wasn't in a hurry to return to the palace. Hephaistion walked a little ahead the others because he was still disturbed by the fact he had been so close to saying, " I love you" to Alexander. He thought about all that had happened since Kallos had arrived and he came to the conclusion that he was in love with Alexander. He didn't know how it happened but it had happened. Suddenly he felt the ground disappear from beneath his feet and he was falling. He grabbed the part of the ground that hadn't collapsed. Beneath was him a crevasse. How deep it was he didn't know, all he could see was black under his dangling feet.
Kallos had seen the ground fall apart and acting quickly caught Hephaistion's left hand. Alexander now too alerted to the danger Hephaistion was in to ran toward his friend who was in grievous trouble.
"Hang on, Heph!" yelled Kallos
"What is this? A crevasse?" Hephaistion yelled up at them.
Alexander looked at the gaping black void under Hephaistion's feet.
"By the gods!" He stammered. «Hephaistion, hold on!»
The situation seemed under control. Kallos was strong but suddenly as he was pulling up Hephaistion, the strength in the visiting boy's arm and hand gave out and Hephaistion's hand slipped away. It all happened so quickly that they couldn't do anything to stop Hephaistion from falling, screaming Alexander's name, into the pitch black hole in the earth.
Alexander hollered Hephaistion's name in horror and Kallos was in shock. Alexander continued to scream and scream for his friend but not a sound was heard. All he could do was pray and hope that the crevasse was not too deep. But nothing, no answer from Hephaistion was heard.
"We need to bring Help, if it's too deep, there's no way we can get to him ourselves! By the gods , I hope he isn't..." said Kallos in growing panic.
Alexander couldn't bring himself to consider the possibility of Hephaistion's death. Especially now that so much had passed between them.
"Go! I'm staying here." Ordered Alexander his voice sure and eyes clouded by tears. So focused on the rescue he hadn't even noticed that he was crying.
Kallos nodded and left but after few steps he turned his back and didn't see Alexander anymore. He had a bad feeling and turned back. When he arrived near the crevasse, he saw that Alexander was descending the crevasse by himself.
"What are you doing? Come back!" yelled Kallos.
"No, he needs me, I want to see, have to see if he is alright!" said Alexander very seriously.
"This is crazy! We don't know how deep it is! You can fall, you…"
"I don't care!" yelled Alexander back and because he was nervous and angry his hands slipped and he fell too as Kallos screamed for him.
"By the gods! No! No! Alexander!" screamed Kallos into the bowels of the earth.
Soon, as he listened a voice, Alexander's voice yelled up to him. "I m fine! It's not that deep and it's seems safe"
"What about Hephaistion?"
" He is here but unconscious." Said Alexander as he checked Hephaistion's for injuries.
Finally Hephaistion regained conscious and said in a confused and drowsy voice, "Alexander, Alexander is that you?"
"Yes, are you alright Hephaistion?
«It's seems that I am." He was wobbly though as he tried to stand up. Then he yelled as pain speared through his left ankle. "My ankle." he said.
"Thanks the gods! You are alright, it could have been far worse than a broken ankle."
"I guess." said Hephaistion wearily Through clenched teeth he was trying to push away the pain and be strong for Alexander.
Alexander yelled up to Kallos that they were fine, and that Hephaistion had only received a minor injury. Kallos said he would bring back people to help them climb up but they all knew that it would take a couple of hours. After telling them to be strong, he began to jog back toward Hephaistion's home.
Suddenly Hephaistion wondered why Alexander was there. "Why are you here Alexander? You were behind me, you didn't fall with me... what happened?"
"I was so worried Hephaistion! I needed to know that you were alive. So I decided to climb down to see..."
"You WHAT?" Yelled Hephaistion " Are you stupid, are you mad Alexander! You could have been killed, it could have been deeper than it is! Alexander why did you do a such thing?"
"I told you! I was worried for you! I...I…"
"Didn't you think! I could have been dead! 'You' could have died just to find out that I was dead!"
" Yes, I thought about it! It's exactly why I didn't care and came after you! If you had been dead then…"
Hephaistion stayed silent at the revelation slowly trying to swallow the meaning of what Alexander just confessed.
"Alexander you can't...you.."
"I love you Hephaistion, and I will follow you to the death to keep from being apart from you!" Alexander blurted out. He hadn't planned to tell Hephaistion of his love that way, so suddenly and so shockingly .
«I am sorry, I didn't want to tell you that way... I..."
Hephaistion interrupted him. "You know, Alexander, it has been two weeks now, and I am still struggling with your birthday present. I didn't know what to give you, because each time I thought about something, it seemed as if it didn't suit you or was just not enough. I wanted something perfect, I wanted something different... and while you were drawing, I was still wondering what to give you, yet I still have nothing"
Alexander was confused by what Hephaistion was saying but simply replied, "It doesn't matter Hephaistion, Birthday gifts I will have tomorrow, plenty of them, even some, probably most, I will not care about."
"It…well what I mean is, I wanted to give you something you would care about. Not something usual or classic and I couldn't find it until..."
"Hephaistion, everything from you, anything from you, no matter how big or how small, or common or fancy I will care about..."
"No, let me continue Alexander. I thought a lot about this these past two days and I realized certain things I didn't suspect before and now I know what I want to give you for your birthday."
"What is it, Hephaistion?" said Alexander with gently and with genuine curiosity.
"Me..."
"What?" sputtered Alexander suddenly feeling his cheeks becoming red.
"I mean, my love. Me!"
"Oh.."
"I love you Alexander. I never thought I could feel for someone in such deep, and intimate way, your are all I care for."
Alexander was touched beyond words and he couldn't find his voice. He had tears in his eyes and what he thought, as he felt it spread across his lips, a silly and happy smile.
"So? Don't you have something to say? You are so eloquent usually, 'My' Alexander." Hephaistion prodded as he touched Alexander's cheek and confidently caressed it.
Alexander was smiling. He couldn't keep the smile away. It had broadened as the reality of Hephaistion's words sank deeper into his overjoyed heart.
«I ..." he began but Hephaistion didn't allow him to finish his answer and instead silenced him with a kiss. Alexander kissed him back and the need of air broke them apart. They stared at each other with red cheeks.
"I am very pleased, by my birthday present Hephaistion." Said Alexander finally breaking the silence.
"It's just the beginning My Alexander."
They cuddled with each other while waiting for the rescuers. They kissed numerous time each time growing a bit bolder, each kiss a bit deeper. They savored the wash of new and wonderful sensations and feelings that their explorations unveiled for them. Waiting for rescue now seemed unimportant. Instead they passed the time waiting for Hephaistion's ankle to stop throbbing and continued to explore more of their newly defined relationship ,one that would define them as lovers.
Two hours later, and as far as the two young men were concerned, too soon Kallos returned with Hephaistion's father and some cousins who pulled the hungry boys from the dark crevasse.
Kallos was glad to learn, that the two friends had finally decided to surrender to their love and he left for Athens after Alexander 's birthday party. He gave to Alexander and Hephaistion a beautiful drawing of the two new lovers in each other arms with the shadow of Achilles and Patroclus over them. The present touched both Alexander and Hephaistion greatly and Kallos was very happy for that. He was mostly happy though because despite all of his past pain Hephaistion had finally opened his heart and found a soul mate in Alexander, someone ready to follow him to death.
THE END.