A/N: Hi all! Just want to make a quick note of the ages:

Hercules: 18

Megara: 20(They're not very specific about her age on Wiki. I want her to have worked for Hades for a fair amount of time and I also didn't want her to be too young when she had her first boyfriend who broke her heart. I also think it makes sense since she's more experienced than Hercules.)

Following the aftermath of Hercules declaring his love for me in front of his parents, I felt overwhelmed. He'd spent his whole life working towards joining his parents. Now, when he found that chance, he gave it all up for me. I couldn't believe he thought I was worthy after everything I did to him. Everything. I hurt him so much.

I shook my head in disgust at the reflection before me. I hadn't seen Hercules much since that day, but I knew he was busy. And maybe space was a good thing. It gave us both a chance to clear our heads before perusing anything romantically.

To be free of Hades was enough of an adjustment getting used to. My freedom was something I hadn't had in so long. I'd spent days walking the streets aimlessly- just because I could. I had seen all the sights in Athens and I was currently staying in a flat which Hercules was renting out for me. I had told him I would find a job and that he needn't do that but he insisted. I'm promising myself that I will pay him back someday.

I walked out of my flatlet and strolled towards Hercules's estate. I remember the one and only time I went there, and I had scaled the garden walls to get in. It was massive though, the whole mansion. It was a mere ten minutes walk from my flat, so not far at all.

Once there, I stood outside the big golden gates and I inhaled sharply. A guard standing inside asked me kindly, "Can I help you miss?" I smiled gratefully and replied, "I'm looking for Hercules. Is he in?" The guard shook his head, "No miss. He's at battle in the stadium. What's your name please?" I replied quickly, "Megara. Or Meg. Hercules calls me Meg."

The guard nodded in recognition, "He told me if someone came to the door with this name, I should let her in. And you fit the description, miss, so I better let you in." I nodded and sighed gratefully, "Thank you…er…what's your name please?" He smiled, "Name's Arnold." I nodded, "Thank you Arnold. Do you know when the battle will end?" The guard nodded and looked at his watch, "Its four o clock now. He should be home around five, if you don't mind waiting, Miss. The butler can make you a cup of tea so long."

I smiled and thanked him, before meandering my way up the extensive garden path. I then decided to take a proper look around the garden. There was a nice little hammock sitting directly in the sun in the far corner of the property. It had a little pond next to it, filed with fish and wild life. A willow tree hung over the pond. I headed to the hammock and swung myself into it. I stared up at the cloudless sky.

It was a fairly hot day and the sun had made me tired. I felt my eyes drooping shut and soon enough, I was drifting off to the sound of chirping birds in the background.

XXX

I woke up sometime later to voices in the background. I recognized Phil's voice first, "You did it again! Nice going, Herc!" I heard his voice and I couldn't help but smile as he commented, "It's getting kind of boring, Phil! I'm tired of battling these guys. What is it really proving?" Phil retorted, "Sir, it's proving you can battle 'em without God-like strength!"

The guard at the gate said quickly, "Excuse me for interrupting, Sir. Megara has arrived. She's been waiting for you for over an hour." There was a change in his voice now. He said almost hesitantly, "Uh…thank you Arnold. Do you know you where I could find her, please?" Arnold must have pointed in my direction.

I pretended to yawn, so it looked like I was only just waking up. He loomed over me and I opened my eyes. He smiled sweetly, "Hey Meg…" I slowly sat up and smirked at him, "Hey there, Wonderboy. What a pleasant surprise. I wasn't expecting you." He rolled his eyes, "Yes? And what are you doing art my residence then, Meg?"

I raised my eyebrow. He had gotten me there. I sat up and hopped off the hammock lightly. I shrugged my shoulders and replied, "Well, where is Phil firstly? And Pegasus. I don't want either listening to our conversation." Hercules smiled casually, and even just his sweet and sincere smile made my heart pound away in my chest. I didn't want to let that show though. My guard was still up to some extent. He replied, "Phil's going inside to give us some privacy. Pegasus is in the back garden."

I smiled and nodded, "It's been a while." Hercules laughed softly and whispered, "A week exactly, Meg." I couldn't help but make eye contact with him then. His blue eyes sent electricity down my spine. I couldn't help it. He was too attractive for his own damn good! That's when I heard screams that made me jump and my skin crawl. Then there were people shouting his name. I grimaced and asked, "Is that…" Hercules interrupted me with a groan, "The fans? Yes. Arnold will sort them out don't worry."
He took my hand in his and I allowed him to take me to a nearby bench. We sat down and I enjoyed the warmth of his hand covering mine. I sighed happily and he whispered, "Why didn't you call? Or want to see me?" I cringed a little, dreading this question and knowing it was coming. I sighed, "Hercules, we need to talk. I need to tell you why I ended up working for Hades."

I could see his massive muscles tense. He didn't like where this was going already. I grimaced. I'd been thinking about how to tell him this the entire week. It's the main reason I'd avoided him. And I also needed to try and convince him of something else too.

I said slowly, "I had a boyfriend when I was sixteen. He was dying of an illness no-one had a cure to." Even speaking about this was painful. I swallowed hard and then looked up into Hercules's baby blue eyes and my heart melted. I didn't deserve this man. I sighed and continued, "I was desperate. I had to save him. And at sixteen…well I was hopelessly in love. I was stupid. I found Hades and he seemed like the answer to all of my problems."
Hercules was listening intensely, giving me his undivided attention. It felt really intimidating but it also made my heart pound painfully in my chest. I bit my lip and all but spat out, "I sold my soul to Hades to save his worthless life. Hades said he would only help me if I had something to offer him in return." My stomach turned in nervousness, fearing the outcome of this conversation. He hadn't yet backed off running. That was a good start.

I sighed and broke the eye contact, staring off across the pond. I said, "The bastard left me two months later for some other girl. Someone who used to be my best friend." This caused Hercules's jaw drop and I smirked at him, "Close that jaw, Wonderboy, you look like a goldfish." He laughed awkwardly and somehow managed to shut his mouth.

I grimaced and shrugged my shoulders, "So that's how I've ended up working for Hades for these last four years. And there's something else you need to know." Hercules grimaced, not liking where this was going again. I sighed and forced myself to look into his gorgeous heart-warming, spine tingling eyes. I said what I'd dreaded saying the entire week, "You deserve someone so much better than me. Someone as innocent, and sweet, and kind as you. Someone who's done no evil in this world. And that person is not me."

Hercules's expression hardened then and I could see the muscles in his jaw tense. He said fiercely, "No Meg. I didn't leave my family so that I could have someone else. I don't want anyone else!" I laughed and said playfully, "But you've never been with anyone else. You've never explored this world. There's no way for you to know that there is not someone better out there for you."

He smiled at me and rolled his eyes. I was surprised by that. He was never the cheeky one. That was my forte. He said with a massive smile on his face, "Meg…I think it was very kind of you to try and do that for that worthless guy. He never deserved you. But I think, if I'm not mistaken, that I can make you happy."

I wanted so badly to believe that he truly did want me. I felt myself shiver as he took his index finger and traced my cheekbone, trailing it down to my shoulder. I sighed, "Wonderboy…you're giving me week ankles." He laughed heartedly and I commented, "But what about your family? You worked so hard to get your Godly status back. I don't want you to resent me at some point in the future because of your decision…"

His finger had landed from my shoulder to my back. It was going down my spine and I couldn't even think straight. He shrugged his shoulders, "It's my choice. I wouldn't resent you for that." I sighed and whispered, "You're too good for me, Wonderboy." He shook his head and murmured, "Nu uh. I think it's the other way around."

A/N: Hope anyone's who's reading enjoys this! It might just be a one-shot but if it gets enough positive reviews there will definitely me more, so please let me know thoughts!