AN: Thank you for the idea, Nina!

Hephaestion was excited for the Winter Solstice. But it was not because of Alexander or Darko. Hephaestion had a secret. Yes, he had a secret indeed.

Alexander and Darko had exchanged gifts. And now it was Hephaestion's turn. Except he had no gifts to give. He had only his secret. And he was bursting at the seams, grinning from ear-to-ear.

"Phaistion, don't you have gifts to give out? It is tradition," Alexander reminded him.

"I know, I just-" a hand went over his mouth and suddenly he was sobbing.

"Phaistion? Love, what's wrong?"

He shook his head and breathed deep to put off the tears. He couldn't cry now! Darko crawled into his lap, concerned coos and mews coming from his lips.

"Momma's fine, Baby. I'm just happy. Xander, take him please."

Alexander took his son onto his own lap, staring at his husband, "Happy? What could make you so happy that you would cry, Love?"

Hephaestion rolled his eyes, some of the usual effect lost thanks to the tears in his eyes. His Alexander really could be oblivious at times. But that was one of the many reasons he loved him.

"Boys," despite being a man, Alexander did not reprimand him for the title, knowing that he was doing so for Darko's benefit, but instead leaned forward just as Hephaestion did, although the latter did it gingerly, just as his son did, "Mommy has something very special to tell you. I'm going to have a baby," he grinned.

Alexander lost it. He began to whoop and holler and dance with his toddler in his arms. Said toddler looked a little frightened at his father's unexpected behavior, and soon his mother took him into her safe arms, sitting on the couch while his father bounded over and sat with them, pulling his love into a deep kiss.

"Alexander, please! Darko," Hephaestion warned, but he was smiling.

Darko still looked confused.

"What is it, Darling?" Hephaestion knew his child had something to say.

"Where gift?" he shrugged his shoulders and shook his head, as if looking for his present.

"The gift is in Mommy's tummy, Darko. Right here," he placed a protective hand on his stomach, and he heard Alexander gasp at the little bump that was already there, "Remember how I told you about your time in my belly? Well, now, another baby has to make a home in there, so that later he or she can come greet us as you did. You're going to be a big brother, Darko."

"When?"

'In a short while."

Hephaestion watched as a kind of determination came over his child's face. Then came the hug.

"My Mumma. You my Mumma," his fingers didn't move, but his pout said it all, "Baby get ou' my Mumma," finally he released his mother and completed the thoughts inside his head with his fingers.

"Darko, that's not very nice. The baby needs me right now."

"Baby steal you."

"No, the baby will not steal me. I will still love you. I will always love you. And I will always love the new baby as well. Understand?"

Darko nodded, but that night he went to sleep making sure his Mama held him extra tight.