Title: Hephaistion's kittens

Authors : veronique

Email address:kyomine2002yahoo.fr

Category: Comedy Parody

Pairing: Alexander/Hephaistion slash

Date:2/05/2005

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 dreamer46 .

Summary: Hephaistion adopted kittens and he didn't want Alexander to know about them.

Warnings: Madness.

Hephaistion exited the architect's house with whom he'd had an appointment. He was about to mount his horse when he heard meowing that sounded desperate coming from a small, dark side street. The sad sound broke his heart and he decided to see what was happening to the cat in question. Hephaistion loved all animals and he couldn't ignore any animal in distress. He walked toward the sound and his heart sank at the sight of the two horribly skinny Persian cats. The black one had an injured leg, that looked like it was broken and the golden one was very weak. The cats looked at him with a mix of fear and what seemed to Hephaistion, hope.

The young general couldn't resist. He returned to the house he'd just existed to ask a basket and small blankets. His previous host gave him all what he needed and with a great care he took the cats and decided to take them to the palace.

He looked at them with love and said, "I will take care of you both, your difficult lives end today."

As soon as he came back, he ordered his page to call him a doctor but not a doctor from the palace, he wanted one from outside the city. Hephaistion didn't want anybody but his trusted pages to know about the kittens. He feared that one of his enemies could find out and try to hurt or kill his new pets. Hephaistion had never had a pet because he feared this might happen. He wouldn't allow himself any "weakness'" or items or people that his enemy might use against him. The other reason was that Alexander had never been fond of cats. The king preferred horses and dogs. He thought cats were silly and only for women, quite useless. Hephaistion recalled that one day he'd objected to Alexander's argument saying that cats were needed for chasing rats and mice and also very wise but Alexander didn't give in to the argument and maintained his disdain of the creatures. So, he decided, he didn't need Alexander to know, he'd just adopt the cats and keep them a secret.

The doctor came and he took care of the cats. He said the black one was a male and the golden one a female, she was also pregnant. Hephaistion had been excited by the news. Hephaistion listened intently as the doctor told him how to take care of them. Then the doctor left and Hephaistion ordered his pages to tell no one, even to the king about his cats. He also assured them, that if one day Alexander was about to find out the secret he would make sure nothing happened to the page for not telling the truth and he would take the punishment for them. The pages, were very happy because for once, they actually shared something with the general and they felt proud and trusted.

Hephaistion gently stroked the two cats who were just finishing some milk. The doctor had warned Hephaistion not feed them too much, that they needed to slowly learn to eat again. Eating too much would make them sick once more.

" I need to find you both a name." He said out loud. He took the male and grinned "You will be Alexander." He hugged the little pet in his arms. Then it was time for the pretty golden female cat. «You will be Antigona." He let them rest in his lap as he pet them both lovingly. Hephaistion didn't sleep that night. He stayed awake and took care of the cats who were now scrubbed clean, well fed and cozy in Hephaistion's bed very tired from their busy day. He watched them sleeping and thought about all the things he would have to do for them to make them at ease.

Hephaistion was very happy and he swore to protect his two cats no matter what it would take, even lying to Alexander.

The next day Alexander woke up and went about his duties. He was shocked when he overheard two servants talking about how strikingly handsome the doctor was that Hephaistion had called in the middle of the night.

Alexander's heart stopped at the news. Hephaistion had been ill and he'd called a doctor in the middle of the night. A beautiful doctor. He was rushing toward Hephaistion's room when he bumped to one of his pages who told him that his lover was at his office. Alexander turned back and went, frantically worried, to Hephaistion's offices. He opened the door without knocking and entered.

"Hephaistion?" he said with a worried voice

Hephaistion looked tired and pale, he hadn't sleep at all the previous night and at the sight of him Alexander grew even more concerned.

"By the gods! I heard you called a doctor in the night." He said as he came closer to his beloved and caressed his pale cheeks.

Hephaistion's heart jumped at the news. " Who told you that?" He asked nervously, fearing his little secret was already known.

" Two servants were talking about handsome he was." He said exasperated. «How do you feel? You are still so pale, why did you come to work if you are so ill?"

So Alexander thought the doctor was for him. He sighed relieved.

" I'm better now, it was just my stomach. I was cramping a bit. Something I ate I suppose. Or maybe I just ate too much, that's all."

"Take the day off then. Have a nice rest." He ordered as he kissed him tenderly in the lips.

Hephaistion smiled, and since he couldn't wait to be with his cats again. He accepted.

"Fine, Alexander, I think I will. I am quite tired."

Alexander frowned. Usually Hephaistion insisted on staying at work even when sick. He thought he must have been really ill and now worried that much more for his lover.

"I will check in on you tonight then my friend." He said. "Please tell me if you begin to feel worse." Alexander took Hephaistion in his arms.

"Don't worry, it's just that I didn't sleep very much because of it." Hephaistion felt a little guilty about the lie but he thought it was the better thing to do. He'd have the day off to take care of the cats and to find a good place to hide them when Alexander would come to visit later.

tbc