Slices of Life

Persephone knew she was dawdling but damn it she didn't want to leave! She ran her fingertips over the pattern in her quilt on the bed, the bed she shared with her husband for three months of the year. Hades had been distant last night, he always was the night before she was due to go back to Olympus, he gave himself to her heart, body and soul in their love making but after, in the dark when they would hold each other, his hands were not as tender. His caresses didn't speak of the love she knew he had for her, Persephone didn't blame him, he had to steel himself from the hurt they would both experience. Persephone herself felt like she was being ripped in two every time she was forced to leave him and stay with her mother. Persephone could not understand why her mother didn't simply allow her to live with her husband all year round, she'd visit, she'd even make them stay weekends. Didn't Demeter realise that she was hurting her daughter by keeping her away from Hades? Persephone went to the wardrobe carved into the black marble wall; she opened the door and took out one of Hades black shirts. She lifted it to her face and buried her nose in it, his scent, one that she would know anywhere, made her eyes tear up. Abruptly she lifted her head, it wouldn't do for her to say goodbye to her husband with red eyes, Persephone knew she had to be strong for him. It was heart wrenching to know that her Hades was strong in all else but letting her go, his loving her was his downfall and his pain. And as much as she adored him for his love, she hated to be his weakness.

"Time to go," Hades appeared at the doorway of their bedroom, his face hard and expressionless, Persephone put his shirt back into the closet, her hands lingering there longer then was normal. She pulled back and turned to him with a bright smile, walking towards him she moved herself into his arms practically forcing him to hold her.

"I'll be back soon," Persephone tried to be bright and upbeat, Hades didn't comment. His rough hands simply rubbed up and down her upper arms and over her shoulders. He cleared his throat before stepping back, blinking rapidly.

"You should be going," his voice was so hoarse that he had to clear it many times before carrying on. "Its almost midnight and winter is almost coming to an end."

"I hate leaving you," Persephone whispered to him, her voice full of tears, she'd promised herself that she would leave with a smile but how could she? How could she pretend to be happy with leaving her heart behind? Hades closed his eyes and placed his palm against her cheek, she stood still and so did he, he breathed deeply, his nostrils flaring as he took her scent deep down into his lungs. His thumb moved rhythmically over his satin cheek, his four other fingers touching the soft curls near her ear and neck.

"I wish …" Hades began but broke off, he opened his eyes and stepped back from her, he put his hands in the pockets of his black slacks and looked down at the floor. Persephone followed him and got up close; even though he's head was bent and his face downcast she still had to crane her next to look up into his face. Persephone placed her palms on his chest and raised herself on her tiptoes so she could brush a kiss upon his lips, she felt him tremble beneath her palms. And wanting to give him his dignity stepped away quicker then he could.

"Well," she said with faux cheer, "I'll see you when the wind changes, my love."

Hades nodded to the floor and Persephone tried to walk out without crying, she made it to the door.

"Seph!"

Before she could turn she was spun on her heels by two great, warm hands on her shoulders, those mighty hands clasped her upper arms and yanked her flush with his body and up on her toes. Hades' lips crushed down on hers, velvet soft and merciless, they captured her in a kiss that was desperate, wet and noisy. Persephone clung to his shoulders, one hand sliding into his black hair and clasping tight.

When Hades finally broke the kiss it was with a moan of pain, his eyes wee utterly tormented as he looked down at his dainty wife.

"I love you. So, so much."

"I've always loved you, Hades," Seph whispered before closing her eyes and leaning her head upon his hard chest, her hair tickled him. Hades almost smiled, she had always loved him, mythology had gotten it wrong. Hades never kidnapped her, Persephone ran away to the underworld to be with him and when her mother had almost caused a world wide famine over it, his beautiful Seph had even eaten the seven pomegranate seeds just so she would have a legitimate reason to stay. Though Demeter didn't know this of course, Hades was more then willing to take the blame for such things as long as he got to keep his wife.

"Persephone!"

Demeter's ear splitting voice rippled through the underworld and Hades gritted his teeth to keep himself from cursing the woman, this took hating your in-laws to a whole different level. Even Seph cringed in his arms, she rubbed her face against his chest and kissed him over his heart before disappearing, leaving his arms with empty air. Hades looked down to where she had been, her warmth already beginning to evaporate from his body, leaving him cold. Hades touched a finger to his chest, feeling the damp circles there, evidence of her tears, evidence of his wounded heart.

"Oh, Seph," Hades breathed, rubbing his chest, "come back to me."

Hades moved to his bed, he sat for a beat then lay, turning on his side so he was facing Seph's pillow. He cupped the air above the pillow where her golden head should make a dent in the crimson silk. He pulled it towards him so he could hold it, hating the emptiness in his arms, bereft of his only comfort Hades moulded her pillow tightly to his body and closed his eyes, hoping to sleep through the time she would be away from him.

How he hated the summer ….