Alexander and Hephaestion laid their son in his new crib, praying he would sleep for at least a few hours. However, the gods were against them, it seemed, as there was a huge thunderstorm that night.
At the telltale wail, Hephaestion heaved himself out of bed and brought the babe to their bedroom.
"Is he all right?" Alexander came to the window where Hephaestion was watching the rain.
"Fine. Just frightened. Darling, look. It's raining. The Gods are upset. Xander, open the window please."
Alexander did this without complaint, knowing Hephaestion was trying to teach their son about the weather and its connection to the gods, and ultimately that it was nothing to frightened of.
Hephaestion held his son's hand palm up. Alexander's hand then joined theirs and together they eased their child's hand out the window, so that he could feel the rain for the first time.
A few times Darko panicked, whimpering and squealing, but then his parents would pause and pet his hair and coo and whisper until he felt safe again.
Finally, they got his tiny hand out the window. At the wet touch of the warm water, his eyes widened, and he whimpered, not understanding what this new substance was, or how it got onto his hand. He did not cry.
"You're touching the rain, Darling!" Hephaestion kept his voice happy and soft, "How does it feel? Does it feel wet? Is it slippery?"
"What a brave boy you are," Alexander praised, "You're touching the rain. Does it feel good? Is it warm?"
Darko stared out the window, mesmorized by the rain, his mouth in a perfect "O" shape.
"I know," Hephaestion continued to talk to his son, "Your first rain. Isn't it pretty?" he held his babe close.
That night, Darko fell asleep protected by his parents and listening to the rain as it fell softly to Earth.