A/N: HadesxMaria drabble :D (may become a series of one-shots)
Maria and Bianca belong to Mr. Riordan.
He thinks she looks like something carved out of marble, each feature of her face, her body and the smaller one she holds in her arms being a work of art in itself. They are defined and contrasted only by the palest watercolor light of the moon.
A pleasant breeze dances its way into the room, playing lightheartedly with the fabric of her white gown, and she laughs her charming laugh.
Maria di Angelo is, in all aspects, beautiful.
Hades shifts his position on the edge of the mattress; a creaking noise seemingly disrupting the night's quiet. He stands and walks over to where she is and peeks at the small figure she holds in her arms.
Maria turns and, upon seeing his surprised expression, smiles. "She's your daughter, too," is what she remarks, though not unkindly. Not impatient, but loving, as if his reluctant curiosity amused her.
Hades stretches his arms with almost an almost childish tremor; he receives his daughter in his arms for the first time.
She's tiny. Fragile, delicate, dainty, elegant, gracefulbeautifulperfect and he is overwhelmed by it all.
Another sound breaks the quiet, but this sound is not a noise. It is almost symphonic, unique in its unusualness- Hades' laugh, as rich and powerful as his domain.
And for the first time in over a century, happy.
He looks up from his daughter's face and into Maria's, who's leaning against the window frame, laughing herself. His face is lit by his excitement, besieged by emotion.
She waltzes to him and kisses their daughter's forehead and then his lips, warm as May, warm like they were the first time.
She pecks his lips one last time before taking and placing their daughter in her cradle, humming a lullaby softly.
Hades looks around then: the night is warm, and the two most beautiful beings he has ever seen are right before his eyes.
He sighs, although not tiredly, but contently.
Maria sits next to him and their hands entwine.
"You seem happy, my love," she intones later, when they're laying on the bed amidst the lunar darkness.
Hades raises their entwined hands and kisses her fingers lightly. "I am delighted," is what he says, but then he frowns, "but my brothers-"
"Hush," she exhales. "I already told you what I thought-"
"But, Maria-"
"Hades," her voice is firm, confident. "We are no puppets of fate."
He snorts in disbelief, but lets her continue.
"We are the masters of our own fate, controllers of our actions, the only ones who shape our path," she says. Then, almost as an afterthought, a "You will protect us, dear, I know you will," murmured.
And then nothing but the surrounding darkness (which he was so accustomed to) and the warmth of his hand in hers. Rhythmical breathing: Inhaling, exhaling.
He decides against responding, giving in to her. He gathers her into his arms and kisses her, thankful for her faith she has in him but also worried. He kisses her lips, her neck, the line of her jaw and shoulders.
And he holds her.
Hades holds on to Maria as if she were the last shred of happiness left for him.
(Perhaps she was).
That night, there are tears in his eyes when she whispers against his lips.
I love you.
The ending´s up to you to interpret ;)
Comments? :)