Claudita stood out on the balcony, even more confused. New tears began to form in her eyes as she sat herself back down on the cushions. She pulled a blanket from nearby and wrapped it around her shoulders, as she began to sob. She heard someone enter the room again, but she did not turn around. She could not turn around, in case she came face to face with Hephaistion. She could not bear to feel his rejection.

"Claudita? Oh Clau," came the voice of her husband, Cleitus, as he found her on the balcony. He dropped down to her level and brought her to him, holding her so tightly for fear that she might disappear. After a few moments of silence, he pulled back and took her face in his hands, examining her tear stained cheeks and watery eyes.

"I love you. I love you, and we will get through this Clau, I promise you. I promise you that I will give you a child," Cleitus told her, as he kissed her lips.

"Cleitus. I feel weak… and worthless. I didn't know I could be this fragile," Claudita told him, as she stared deeply into his eyes.

"You are beautiful, not worthless. You are tired, Clau. It has been an exhaustive day for you. You need to rest," Claudita nodded her head in agreement. Cleitus stood and bent to pick her up, carrying her to their bed he lay her down and removed her toga, before climbing into the bed beside her.

"I love you Claudita. I will do everything, and anything to make you well again," he whispered into her ear, as he placed his arm around her, bringing it to rest on her stomach. As his hand touched her abdomen, Claudita let fresh tears fall. She knew that he had wanted their child. Cleitus moved his hand from her stomach and placed it on her hip, stroking it lightly as the two drifted off to sleep.

Claudita did not leave their rooms for nearly two weeks, and she had not seen Hephaistion in that time either. She missed him terribly. She loved him. During that time her and Cleitus had been intimate with each other on numerous occasions, however it was different. Claudita assumed it was because she was still upset over the loss of the baby, she knew that Cleitus was thinking the same, except she couldn't help wondering if maybe there was something else.

Claudita dressed and left her chambers. Cleitus was away for a few days and she was almost glad of it. She was beginning to feel very differently towards her husband, ever since the day that she and Hephaestion had kissed. She needed to find him. She needed to talk with him. Luckily for her, as she was strolling through the city she came across Hephaestion reading by the fountain. As if sensing her nearness, Hephaestion turned towards her and closed his book. He looked at her and quickly walked away.

"Phai?" Claudita called after him. He did not turn around to acknowledge that he had heard her, and continued to walk into the city. Claudita found herself alone, and chose to sit at the fountain in the same spot as he had just left. She could still smell him: His masculinity. After a brief moment Claudita regained herself and decided to head after Hephaestion. Fortunately for her he had not made it very far and she found him outside a merchant store. This time, she decided to sneak up to him quietly, so he would not be able to get away from her so easily. She was able to walk right up to him before he noticed.

"Hephaestion?" Claudita said. He turned, quite surprised to see her. He was even more handsome than Claudita had ever realized, and she could feel herself blush. He was wearing his uniform, complete with breastplate, and his long hair was down, with a few pieces hanging in front of his face. Claudita instinctively moved her hand to place the pieces behind his ear, which produced a small smile on Hephaestion's face.

"Can we go somewhere?" Claudita asked him, hoping he'd agree. She could tell by his long pause that he was hesitant, but gave in and agreed.

Claudita led the two of them down an alleyway and out of the city, so as they would not be seen. She took him to an old abandoned hut that overlooked the city. Once inside, Claudita took Hephastion's hand. He was still hesitant to be alone with her, but his feeling soon subsided once he felt the warmth of her skin. Claudita turned to him and held both of his hands in hers.

"Please Phai, talk to me. It's only us now, it's only me. Why wouldn't you respond to me earlier? Why haven't I seen you?' she asked him, as she held his hands tighter.

"I have been busy dealing with Alexander and the soldiers. I needed to be away from you," Claudita loosened her grip on his hands and let hers fall to her sides. He looked at her with a mixture of pain and love, but Claudita couldn't understand.

"Then why are you here? Why did you agree to come with me?" she asked, as she sat down on a stone bench that was conveniently covered with an animal fur, making it softer for her. Hephaistion moved closer to her, and knelt in front of her, holding onto her hands again. Claudita looked away from him.

"You know why, Claudita. Surely you know how I feel for you now. How I have felt about you for my entire life," he began.

"Hephaistion.."

"No, Clau.. I need to tell you this. If you reject it, then I must learn to live with that, but I can not go on without you knowing how I feel for you. I…"

"Hephaestion, I love you," Claudita interrupted him. Hephaestion sat speechless. He had never expected her to ever say to him what she just had. It couldn't be true. Claudita knelt down from the stone bench and sat in front of Hephaestion. She could tell that he was in disbelief.

"I love you, Phai" Claudita reassured him, placing her hands on either side of his face and looking deeply into his eyes. With that, he was undone, and lent into her, kissing her deeply. This time, Hephaestion didn't hold back as he had done before. He had waited years to hear those words fall from her lips, and he was not going to let this moment pass hastily. Hephaestion held her head and kissed her with a fierce passion that he had kept inside for years. He loved this woman, with everything he was, he loved her.