Later that evening Claudita was preparing for dinner in her chambers with the aid of Stolca, who had become quite a close friend of hers. Claudita like Darius' mistress as she possessed similar values to those of herself.
Stolca brought out one of Claudita's favourite dresses and laid it upon the bed as she helped her change into it. As she brought the dress up over her stomach, Stolca noticed a change in the body shape of her mistress.
"Mistress Claudita, when did you last bleed?" she inquired, glancing down at Claudita's stomach as she pulled the dress up higher and pinned it across her shoulders. Claudita looked at her with an expression of confusion and then realisation as it dawned upon her that she couldn't remember the last time she had her monthly cycle.
A large smile quickly appeared on the face of Stolca as she hugged her mistress.
"Congratulations to you mistress. It is a miracle. Your husband will be thrilled," she said, as she hugged Claudita tightly.
"Stolca, please – he cannot know. Not yet. I will be sure to tell him – just not now," Claudita informed her, speaking a little more sternly and authoritatively than she would have liked. Stolca nodded and finished with her hair as she announced she was ready to leave for dinner with Alexander.
On her way to the dining room Claudita pondered on what Stolca had asked her, and she knew that she was right. Stolca was always correct when it came to things such as this, and it scared Claudita. How could it happen so quickly? She wanted this – this child, their child – but she didn't consider it possible to fall pregnant so soon. She must've had a look of confusion across her face as she entered the dining hall as Alexander immediately came over to her.
"What is it my queen? What have you seen?" he asked her inquiringly. Hearing the words of her dearest friend was all that she needed to break her out of her pensive trance. A smile lit up Claudita's beautiful face as she embraced her friend with an enormous hug.
"Everything is fine – perfect," she informed him, as he lead her out to the balcony overlooking the large gardens. The moon shone brightly in the sky and candles were littered throughout the garden on many spikes.
"This is beautiful Alex. Truly beautiful," she said wistfully as she placed her hands on the stoned terrace ledge and overlooked the candle-lit garden. One of Alexander's slaves brought them cups of wine on a tray, and Alexander took two of the three cups, offering one to Claudita. She was hesitant to take it, but could not refuse her friend. Alexander took a large gulp of his wine, as Claudita pretended to sip on hers, gently tipping some out every so often when his back was turned.
"There are three cups – who is the third for?" she asked him, motioning toward the lone cup sat on the tray of the outdoor lounge chair.
Claudita had a feeling that she already knew the answer to her own question, but felt the need for Alexander to confirm her suspicions. Given what he had said to her before she met with Hephaestion that afternoon, it was not long before her suspicions were confirmed.
"Ah Hephaestion, you are just in time. Claudita is already here, so the three of us can enjoy a lovely dinner together," Alexander hugged Hephaestion and motioned for him to greet Claudita. She hadn't mentioned to him that Alexander knew about them, at least she wasn't all that certain that he knew about them. Claudita tried to pull herself together and hug him as she always had – before she had inevitably given in to her deepest feelings for him. Hephaestion pulled her to him and she kissed his cheek, wanting so much to take his mouth with hers and kiss him as deeply as he had done to her earlier that afternoon. They hugged briefly, and Claudita knew that Alexander had noticed the brevity of their union – and the awkwardness that was given off of Claudita.
"Come my darling, let us eat. You must be famished after this afternoon,"
The three of them enjoyed a lovely dinner prepared by Alexander's own cooks and laughed about their childhood. They were onto another jug of wine, of which Claudita was trying her best to avoid drinking, when Alexander finally came to the topic of Cleitus.
"Cleitus is away for quite some time isn't he?" Alexander asked her. Claudita played with the lip of her wine cup before she answered him. Her hand subconsciously went to her belly, and she left it there comfortingly. She nodded.
"Yes, he is. I miss him," it was the truth. She did miss him. His company was lovely, and he was a nice man – but she no longer felt any love for him. It was all for Hephaestion. When the words had left her lips, she noticed Hephaestion dip his head. She wanted immediately to go to him, wrap him in her arms and tell him that her heart belonged entirely to him. That whilst she missed her legal husband, Hephaestion had her completely.
"I know you do. But still, let's not be ignorant here," at these words he dismissed his servants and made sure that the three of them were entirely alone, "I know you two. The three of us have been friends for our entire lives. Do you think I haven't noticed?" Alexander asked her, smiling in her direction as she held his gaze. She shook her head.
"Alexander, I don't understand what you're saying. What have you noticed?" Claudita asked, mindful of what he may or may not know. As if he picked up on where the conversation was leading, Hephaestion stood from his seated position next to Alexander and walked over to Claudita, kneeling down at her side and taking her hands in his as he stared deeply into her eyes.
"I'm in love with Claudita - is that what you want to hear Alex? We're in love with each other. I would do anything in the world for this woman -"
"And I would do anything in the world for him. I am his," Claudita finished. Hephaestion smiled up at her, and leant up to capture her lips in a deep kiss. Alexander sat back in his chair at the head of the table, a smug smirk painted across his face. He nodded approvingly.
"I knew it. You two have never been able to keep anything from me – never," he told them, as he stood and made his way toward the couple who were now stood away from the table.
Claudita shied away from the hold that Hephaestion had on her and slowly backed herself out onto the terrace, away from the two men. Hephaestion looked at her disappointingly, as if he had hurt her by offering his confession of love in front of Alexander. Alexander smiled and shook his head, arms outstretched to hug his dearest female friend.
"No, Alex," Claudita said, the shakiness and fear evident in her voice as her back met with the stone balcony of the terrace. Alexander slowly continued his approach of her, but was stopped by Hephaestion who stretched out his hand to pull him back. As Claudita stood on the edge of the terrace she felt tears forming in her eyes that quickly spilled onto her cheeks. Before he could stop himself, Hephaestion gently pushed Alexander aside and pulled Claudita to him as she softly began to fall to the floor. Her body was racked with sobs as he held her and kissed her forehead. He placed his hands on her cheeks and desperately tried to wipe away the tears that fell onto her delicate face. Despite his ecstatic mood Alexander knelt down beside Hephaestion and Claudita allowed herself to be transferred from the arms of her lover to the arms of her friend.
"Shh Clau. What's with the tears?" Alexander asked her, stroking her hair as Hephaestion rubbed her shoulders to try and ease the coolness of the night air that whispered past them. After a few moments her sobs subsided and she slowly pulled herself together. Alexander gently let go of her and waited patiently – as did Hephaestion – for her to answer.
"Please don't tell Cleitus. I will do anything. I will give up anything if you can hold onto this. Please Alex, please. We need Hephaestion. I love him, Alex," Claudita pleaded with her friend as she wiped her tears and gave a watery smile to Hephaestion. For the second time that night, she let her hand fall to her lower abdomen, rubbing it gently.
"Claudita, I love you both. Hephaestion has never been able to keep things to himself when it came to you, never. But this time he did. That's when I knew that something was happening between the two of you. Finally, after all of these years! The two people that I love most in the world are happy with each other. How could you ever think that I would be angry, or displeased by this? I am only so deeply sorry that I encouraged the marriage between you and Cleitus. He is a good man, and honorable man but – he is no Hephaestion," Claudita blushed at Alexander's last statement. He certainly was no Hephaestion, in so many regards. Alexander smiled at her, and kissed her forehead. Hephaestion smiled at Claudita after hearing Alexander's speech, but he couldn't help holding on to a mere word that Claudita had spoken only moments ago. He picked up her hands and pulled her to him, kissing her deeply and holding her tightly for fear that if he let her go, this would all be a dream. But still, that one word was playing on his mind.
"I shall leave you two alone. Please, come back in and join me shortly. We have much to discuss, and I don't want either of you to leave out anything," Alexander told them, kissing them both before he happily danced back inside, summoning his slaves for some fruits.
Claudita braced herself gently and began to stand, as Hephaestion helped her to her feet. She wrapped her arms around him, content to be in his arms. Content to feel his strength and smell his masculinity.
"Clau?" Hephaestion attempted softly. She gazed up at him through wet dark lashes and smiled.
"What did you mean when you said 'we' need Hephaestion? Did you mean that you and Alexander need me?" he asked her, hesitantly. It would have been so easy for Claudita to say 'of course that's what I meant', but her mind was far from being rational at that point and it took her longer to answer than she had hoped. When she was silent a little too long, Hephaestion pressed her again, "Clau? What is it?"
She shook her head, in answer to the question he had asked if it was both her and Alexander that needed him.
"I… I love you Phai," she told him, kissing him deeply before building up the courage to finally answer his question. Hephaestion rubbed her arms encouragingly as she looked up into his handsome face. The tears began to form in her eyes again, and Hephaestion was confused – and more than a little worried when she wouldn't answer him.
Slowly, Claudita brought Hephaestion's hand to her stomach and placed his large palm across the span of her lower abdomen. At that simple touch his mind was abuzz with what she was trying to express to him. She couldn't be -? No, it wasn't possible. Was it? His hesitance to acknowledge what Claudita was conveying to him, and the confused expression painted across his face was enough to cause her tears to come to the surface again. She quickly pulled herself away from him and ran from the terrace back into the dining room and straight through Alexander's grand abode until she reached her quarters.
She pulled open the heavy door to her bedroom and slammed it shut. Thankfully Stolca was out with the other mistresses so Claudita was able to be alone. She walked over to her large bed and draped herself across the large cushions, letting the tears come. It wasn't long before she heard her bedroom door swing open and close heavily behind whoever had opened it, and within an instant that person was climbing onto the bed next to her to pull her tightly into them. Claudita recognised the strength and softness of the arms wrapped around her body, and the scent of the owner. It was Hephaestion.
As hard as she tried to push him away from her he kept his grip on her body, and she knew it was hopeless to try and move away. He was a strong soldier, and at that moment she was a vulnerable and fragile woman. Hephaestion kissed her neck and tried to turn her face to him so he could claim her mouth. She wouldn't let him, and he allowed her to pull away from him – but only for a moment. She settled herself onto her back and Hephaestion took this opportunity to gently ease himself on top of her body, pinning her hands above her head with one of his large palms as he looked down upon the woman whom he adored and desired with everything that he was.
"Claudita," he finally spoke barely above a whisper, and she turned her head away from him. She felt ashamed.
"Please, leave me," she said, not bothering to try and fight being pinned underneath his body. Hephaestion shook his head.
"No. Never! I will never leave you, Clau. You are my world. Please. I apologise for my actions earlier. It took me far too long to realise what you were trying to tell me and I know that is the reason you fled. Please Claudita – you have to know how in love with you I am. I am here, and I am not leaving. I want you to tell me what you were trying to before – I want to hear the words Claud," Hephaestion told her as he gently let go of her hands, praying that she wouldn't force him off her and order him to leave.
With her hands now free Claudita was able to wipe the tears off her cheeks with the back of her hand before gazing at the strong handsome man who lay above her. In the candlelight she could see his eyes held so much expression and were pleading with her. She could see the love for her in those deep eyes and knew that he spoke the truth. He wanted her to speak the words. She brought her hands up to cup his face and kiss him deeply. Hephaestion leant into the kiss and began to slowly remove her toga from her shoulders, letting it fall down across her breasts before he removed it completely. As he was only wearing a plain white toga Claudita was able to easily rid him of his clothing and the two soon lay naked together amongst the large silk cushions. In this light Hephaestion was able to notice that her breasts were fuller than they had been weeks earlier. He thought that he was aware of her body, knew every inch of skin, every marking as if it was his own. How could he have missed this earlier in the day? How had he not noticed that her figure was slowly becoming more womanly, more beautiful? Was that even possible? He felt that he knew, but he wanted – needed – to hear her speak the words.
Claudita rubbed his cheek as he gently kissed her. She felt that now was the right time to replicate what she had done earlier. She picked up his right hand that was trailing across her side and brought it again to her stomach, placing her own hand atop and pressing them both into her abdomen. This time Hephaestion reacted how he should've in the first instance. Tears came to his eyes as the realisation finally came to him.
"I'm having your child Phai. You're going to be a father," as soon as the words had fallen from her lips Hephaestion let his tears fall. He was so happy. This was how his life was supposed to be. Claudita was the woman who was meant to carry his children. She was always meant to be the mother to his children – never anyone else. He kept his hand in place and kissed her with a fierce passion. Claudita felt her own tears of happiness mingle with his as their faces collided with one another.
"You're having my child. We're having a child Clau. Do you understand how wonderful this is? I have always wanted this. You're having my baby," This time he moved his hand from her abdomen and rolled her onto her back. At his movement, Clau could feel his erection against her thigh as he moved between her legs. He kissed her again and she allowed his tongue entry into her mouth as the two kissed hungrily, passionately. Claudita rolled her hips up to his, pressing them against his manhood. She wanted him to make love to her, but Hephaestion had other ideas. He gently started to kiss down her body – beginning with gentle soft nips to her jaw, then her neck. He trailed kisses between her breasts and gently brought her nipples to a peak, placing them into his mouth one at a time before he made his way lower. Claudita put her head back amongst the cushions and brought her hands into his dirty hair. She was expecting him to work his way to the junction of her thighs, to her sweet intimacy, but he left soft kisses along her stomach – and that's where he stayed. He placed a soft tender kiss to her lower abdomen, and began to speak to their baby.
"Hi son. I am your father. I love you, and I can't wait to meet you. Your mother is the most special person in the world to me, and I need you to be good to her. When you start getting big inside her be gentle with her. I can't let anything happen to you son, or to your mother. I love you," he finished, and placed a tender kiss below Claudita's navel.
"Son?" Claudita queried, raising her eyebrow. Hephaestion smiled widely at her and worked his way back up her body, kissing her hotly.
"I have a feeling,"