The rest of the week went rather quickly, but to Hephaestion it felt like an eternity. It had now been nearly three weeks since they had seen each other. He missed Alexander so badly he ached with it, and not just physically. He never felt quite complete when they were apart.

"Gods!" he snorted, shaking his head and laughing at himself "I sound like a lovesick girl."

He prepared for the day's lessons, having promised Aristotle he would be on his best behavior and stop distracting him. Aristotle had gently chastised him, but the smile in the old teacher's eyes told Hephaestion that the man secretly enjoyed their little debates.

True to his word, he had been a perfect student all day, not once straying from the topic of their lessons. He noticed that Aristotle kept looking at him quizzically, probably surprised that Hephaestion had not launched into another of his discussions, but Hephaestion simply smiled at him and kept working on his studies.

Finally it was time for their evening meal, and by the mercy of the gods, Aristotle had advised them that they would not be having any lessons tomorrow. Hephaestion didn't remember the reason, but he didn't really care. He was just happy to have a day off.

Hephaestion sat down to enjoy a quiet meal, but it was not to be. He looked up from his plate to find Perdiccas, Ptolemy and Nearchus grinning down at him. He shook his head and laughed softly. "What may I help you gentlemen with this fine evening?"

Ptolemy winked at him. "Nearchus is still wondering if you will tell him exactly what you plan on doing to Alexander when he returns. We have been discussing it, and we think you should…" His speech was interrupted when Hephaestion promptly threw a chunk of bread at his head.

"Do you guys not have anything better to do?"

Nearchus laughed. "Aye, we probably do. But it is much more fun to torment you at the moment. I mean, you seem to be the only one of us that is, uh….getting any."

Hephaestion grinned at them in return. "Jealous, boys?" He took the last drink of his well watered wine and stood. "Now if you don't mind, I will leave you to your foolishness and retire for the evening." He sauntered away, ignoring the trio as they laughed and made kissing noises at him. He didn't mind at all. They were trusted friends to both Alexander and himself.

It was still early in the evening, and he contemplated how he might spend his time. He needed to write his father again and maybe do some reading, anything to keep his mind off a certain blonde prince that he missed terribly. Looking down at his dusty clothes, he decided a bath might be in order. He walked to the bath area, quickly stripped and stepped down into the warm, scented water. With a contented sigh, he leaned back against the side of the bath and closed his eyes. Pure bliss, that's what this was. The only thing that would have made it better would be sharing it with Alexander. A soft smile played on his lips as he recalled the last time he and Alexander had managed to bathe together when no one else was around. Alexander had insisted on washing him, which Hephaestion had happily allowed. Ever thorough, Alexander made sure that no part of Hephaestion was overlooked…paying special attention to certain areas which, by that time, were begging for attention. He had, of course, returned the favor. Still smiling at the memory, he felt that same part of him stir to life. He looked around. No one was there, nor could he hear anyone nearby. His hand drifted lower on his body, debating whether or not he should do something to soothe the ache in his loins, but decided against it. He had promised himself he was going to wait until Alexander returned and then….gods help the man…Hephaestion planned on releasing weeks of pent up hunger on his unsuspecting prince.

Willing his body to settle down, he stood and climbed out of the bath, wrapping a thick towel around his waist and gathering up his dusty clothes. He padded barefoot down the hallway towards the quarters he shared with Alexander, small droplets of water still clinging to his slender but muscular body.

Entering their room, he pulled the door closed behind him and turned to gather some clean clothes, but he froze in his tracks. An enormous grin appeared on his face and his heart immediately began to beat faster. There, in the middle of the bed, was a large, shiny red apple. That could mean only one thing.

Alexander was back.

Hephaestion heard a slight movement behind him as Alexander stepped out from behind the curtain where he had been hiding. Slowly, Hephaestion turned around, a wicked smile on his face. He licked his lips and slid a predatory gaze up and down the length of Alexander's body.

Alexander's eyes widened and he took a small step back. There was a look on Hephaestion's face that left little doubt as to what he was thinking. Alexander let his own gaze wander over Hephaestion's lean form, his skin still damp and warm from the bath, with only a towel wrapped loosely around his waist. The enticing bulge in the front of the towel held his attention, and he gasped sharply when Hephaestion loosened the towel and let it fall to the floor. Alexander swallowed hard and raised his eyes to meet Hephaestion's intense stare. For reasons he wasn't sure of, he felt a little nervous.

"Hephaestion? What…"

Alexander never got to finish the sentence. Hephaestion quickly pinned him against the wall and proceeded to thoroughly ravage the startled prince.

Sometime later, they lay side by side in the bed. Alexander still looked slightly stunned, but deliriously happy. A very sated Hephaestion had his eyes closed and a smile on his lips. They still had not spoken to each other.

Hephaestion sat up and reached for the apple that was on the bed and took a bite of the sweet flesh. He licked the juice from his lips and turned to Alexander, his look tender and loving this time, now that the fire in his blood had been quenched.

"Alexander?"

"Hmm?"

"Welcome back."