Title: Three's a crowd 1/3

Authors : veronique

Email address:kyomine2002yahoo.fr

Category: Comedy romance

Pairing: Alexander/Hephaistion slash

Date:07/006/2005

Feedback: please, but if you don't like it, be constructive , I don't want to read sarcasm or snarks.

Archive: if you want I'm okay

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: I don't own them. They're characters belonging to Warner Brothers Pictures, to Oliver Stone, to my imagination, and to the ages. This is a work of a fan, done for no remuneration save the satisfaction of the work.

Special thanks to my beta Rothalion .

Summary: Alexander 's 1 5th birthday is soon but Hephaistion's best friend from Athens is visiting.

Three's a crowd 1/3

Alexander had his head on Hephaistion's lap, they were reading their mail. He had finished reading his own and it was now Hephaistion's turn. Alexander took a fine line of green grass and began to chew it. Hephaistion opened his letter and even before he started to read it out loud he gasped.

" By the gods!"

Alexander stopped chewing and looked up at his friend with curiosity, was it a good news or a bad news? The look on Hephaistion's face was a shocked one. He stood up and finally asked.

" Is something wrong, Hephaistion?"

Hephaistion shook his head before answering. «No! It's good news! So good I can't believe it! This is wonderful."

Alexander was growing impatient, patience was not one of his finer traits.

" Tell me!" he pleaded.

"It's my best friend from when I lived in Athens! My mother invited his mother to come and he is telling me that he is coming with her! By the gods!" added Hephaistion with a large smile.

Alexander didn't know what to think about the good news. He should have felt happy but he was a little afraid of meeting someone who had known Hephaistion before him.

"Yes, that's good for you Hephaistion. Indeed it is great news." Said Alexander in a calm voice.

Hephaistion nodded. "You have no idea! Kal is simply wonderful. He is funny, smart and kind, he told me such about the Illiad in a wonderful way and he knows it by heart and his skill for drawing is just incredible! You will love him! I just can't wait." Hephaistion began to check when the mail had been sent hoping to know exactly when his friend would be arriving.

Alexander frowned but Hephaistion didn't notice. The prince was suddenly upset." Was the boy called Kal absolutely perfect or what?" From Hephaistion's description the boy had only qualities. He wasn't so sure he could love him like Hephaistion wanted him to.

"He should be here soon. " added Hephaistion truly excited and still beaming at his good news. "You know Alexander I have always known him. Kal is the son of my mother's best friend and his house was near mine. We played a lot together when we were young. We were inseparable. I was so disappointed when we had to move here. I haven't see him since I was ten! I'm nervous Alexander, we used to write but it's not the same!"

Alexander was now truly annoyed, the more Hephaistion talked about his friend the more he disliked Kal.

"How old he is?" The prince finally finally asked trying his hardest to mask the edge that was quickly creeping into his tone.

"One year older than me! 16."

"Oh." Said Alexander as he risked glimpse at Hephaistion. His friend was still grinning; his joy at seeing Kal again could not be contained.

"It will be weird, will I recognize him do you think Alexander?" asked Hephaistion his voice now filled with nervous worry. Alexander didn't have time to reply though, a voice from behind them cut him off.

" I hope so!"

Hephaistion and Alexander turned their head toward the unknown voice at the same time and discovered a strikingly handsome boy standing there. Hephaistion's eyes grew wide , as he stood up quickly and jumped into the boy's outstretched arms.

"See you recognized me after all!" said the boy.

"Kal! Your here!" yelled Hephaistion with happiness.

Alexander didn't move. He sat stone still sat on the grass studying the young stranger. He was handsome. His blond hair brighter than his own framed a tan face that bristled with a hint of soft stubble. He was a little more muscular than the prince, and his face a perfect masculine face. He possessed intelligent hazel eyes and was tall. Taller than Alexander was but practically the same size as Hephaistion. Alexander sighed, he didn't know why but right then he felt himself to be particularly ugly and far too girlish compared to the two ecstatic friends.

Hephaistion finally pulled from Kal's embrace and turned to Alexander.

"I have to present you to my dear friend Alexander. He is the prince."

Alexander stood up as Hephaistion's best friend came closer with a large smile.

" Alexander, this is Kallos." Said Hephaistion.

"kallos?" Alexander frowned " I thought it was Kal?"

Hephaistion nodded. "Yes it's a nickname I gave, I'm the only one allowed to call Kallos, Kal!" then he turned his head to Kallos and asked, "I Hope it's still true Kal?"

Kallos smiled and added "Of course it is, Heph!"

Alexander blinked when Kallos called Hephaistion 'Heph'. He felt like a stranger in his own palace and he didn't like it.

"How many days you staying Kal?" asked Hephaistion.

"A week." Answered Kallos.

"Oh! This is great, you will be there for Alexander birthday it's in three days. Isn't that great Alexander?"

Alexander didn't think it was great, he was waiting for his birthday impatiently because it was the first time he could pass this special day with his new friend Hephaistion he had met 4 months ago and now all his dreams for this particularly day just vanished.

"How did you know where to find us Kallos?" asked Alexander with a tone that no longer quite masked his annoyance like he'd wanted. Kallos noticed and frowned.

"A boy called Cassander, I think, he told me when I was at the palace looking for Heph."

Alexander blinked nervously the second time he heard the world " Heph".

"By the way, Heph, our mothers are waiting for us."

"Oh ! I can't wait to see how your mother is." Said Hephaistion.

"She is fine, far too over protective like usual."

Hephaistion laughed and looked at Alexander.

"Well, seems I have to go back, I'm sorry Alexander to leave you so quickly." Apologized Hephaistion his soft blue eyes telling Alexander everything that could not be said aloud.

"I understand." Mumbled Alexander who was in fact mad as well as disappointed.

" I'll see you tomorrow." Offered Hephaistion gently, having read the dark mood that now clouded Alexander's features. Then turned and left with Kallos.

Alexander watched his only true friend leaving and he was highly upset. He felt like he was being abandoned. Once he returned to the palace, he had to meet his mother who showered him with the party she planned to his birthday. The actual birthday party had become a huge fight between his mother and his father over who could arrange the event faster and better. Finally, the king too busy for party planning, had given in to Olympias. But wary as she always was of her husbands intentions she was still afraid that Phillip was hiding something from her and would ruin what she planned for his son. Alexander was not excited about his birthday party any longer, knowing that the only person he truly cared for and was happy to have there, would now probably only have eyes for his old friend Kallos.

Finally back at his room and feeling dejected and confused he jumped in his bed. He sighed. He tried to think about the two old friends. He told himself he should be happy because Hephaistion was so happy to see an old friend of his but the truth was that Alexander wasn't happy at all. This Kallos, this 'Kal' was just too damn beautiful and now his Hephaistion was surely talking with him while he was alone in his bed. Yes in his heart he knew that he should have shared in Hephaistion's joy, he repeated it to himself over and over but he couldn't set aside his jealousy and be happy for himself. From the day he'd met Hephaistion, his life had changed. For the first time he actually felt alive and loved and thought all his dreams could be possible if he had Hephaistion at his side. He cherished Hephaistion 's presence, loved their discussions, their play, their arguments and now he was afraid that Hephaistion didn't truly belong to just him. Hephaistion had a past, had other friends, one in particular called Kallos.

Alexander took his head in his hands as he realized how much he loved Hephaistion. He had doubted the true nature of his feelings but with the appearance of Kallos, his thoughts and his feelings finally appeared clearer to him. He was in love with Hephaistion. Deeply in love and was not ready or willing to give up the object of his love. Alexander stoop up and he swore to himself to fight his rival and win! Hephaistion was his!

tbc