Ok peeps, same deal different story… I don't own Disney's Hercules (unfortunately) but I do own Persephone and any other original characters and places that pop-up… This story takes things from both the film and the series while it also contains some carrying themes from it's forerunner; Plight of Persephone… Little hint: if you haven't read it (or the short story G.W.I) then you might get confused later on..

And finally, a little reminder… Disney twisted a lot of myths for their storylines so I have to do some minor tweaking of my own to make this work… so far, it's working and I'm delighted to bring you the sequel to P.o.P…

Daddy's Little Hellraiser

Chapter Four:Baby Blues and the Husband you Schmooze

Canis and Lupus slipped through the back way into the Underworld, they'd have never have gotten in the main entrance without alerting Charon to their presence. The skeletal boatman was never friendly to anyone without a coin and he certainly wasn't friendly to anyone associated with Hecate.. The witch wasn't allowed near the Underworld without a personal invite from Hades himself… which, after the few times she'd tried to usurp his throne already, was never going to happen.

The two wolves were moving carefully through the trees on the far side of the Asphodel Fields when the thundering of hefty paws sounded. The two wolves barely had time to hide before the enormous three-headed Cerberus bounded passed dragging Hades with him.

'Would ya just slow down and find a freakin' tree already!' The Lord of the Underworld bellowed digging his heels into the ground but unfortunately, since Cerberus was now far too strong for him, this did nothing to heel the enormous mutt.

'Whoa..' Hades sounded narrowly missing a low branch of one of the dying poplar trees. 'Cerberus stop! Heel boy.. heel!' Suddenly the enormous three-headed rottwiller dog screeched to a halt, his three noses were twitching as he sniffed the air keenly… unfortunately Hades carried on forwards.

'Yaaaaaahh!' He shot passed Cerberus, who was now tracking the scent he'd caught, and flew into a large knot of Persephone's sharp thorny creeping vines.

Hades cursed loudly as he got unsteadily to his feet and pulled himself out of the knot of thorns surrounding him. This caused a ripping sound as several large gashes were made in the sides of his chiton..

'Oy vey..' Hades groaned inspecting the damage… Great, that'll be another chiton for the missus to repair... the fiery god then sighed heavily at this thought, he hadn't seen his wife all day so he had no idea how her meeting with Zeus had gone and he hoped she was getting on alright with her minion interviews..

The Lord of the Underworld was starting to regret taking Cerberus for this walk… it was only increasing his stress-levels even further… curse those damn imps for making him get a dog..

Suddenly the fiery god became aware of a low growling noise, wondering what had caught Cerberus' attention Hades turned back around towards his guard-dog-in-training.. Hades' large golden orbs rolled in disbelief as he found Cerberus was growling at a particularly spooky-looking cypress tree which had a ring of long-stemmed Asphodels growing around it.

Oh for the love of Erebus, this dog is dumber than the imps..

'It's just a freakin' tree..'Hades sighed placing his fingers on the bridge of his nose, his patience teetering on it's edge. This dense mutt was going to drive him mushuga..

'Knock it off!' The fiery god bellowed yanking hard on all three leads causing Cerberus' heads to jerk but the three-headed dog merely pulled his head back, glared with six narrowed red eyes, bared three sets of teeth and growled again at the tree.

'Oh for Nyx's sake..' Hades seethed, his skin glowing a slight orange shade at his brainless pet, completely unaware that what Cerberus was growling at was the scent of Hecate's wolves. The fiery god began yanking with all his might on the leashes while grunting through gritted teeth 'Get… over… here… ya… big… stupid… mutt..' Finally after a particularly violent tug Cerberus turned away from the tree snorting with annoyance.

'Heh, c'mon Cerberus, I'll letcha take a dip in the Acheron before we get home..' Hades sounded wearily and the enormous guard dog trotted along-side the fiery god as they began walking away from the large sterile forest.

As the two of them rounded the corner towards the Acheron river, which forked off of the Styx on the left-hand side of the House of Hades, the two grey wolves emerged from their hiding place deep within the raised roots of the grey cypress tree.

'That was a close one..' The first sounded in a silky tone shaking off some of the grey bark from his fur.

'Too close..' His brother agreed nodding slowly.

'Let's follow them, we need to keep Hades in earshot if we're going to get the kind of information Hecate needs.' The first sounded in the same silky tone.

'Then let's keep to the shadows..' The other sounded instantly. '-there's less chance of that maddening mutt sensing our presence..' The first nodded in agreement and as silent as a ghost they slipped down in the direction of the River of Sorrows..

Meanwhile thousands of miles above them on the cloudy surface of Olympus Persephone had become side-tracked from her busy schedule after having caught sight of Aphrodite and her adorable little daughter Eris. The two goddesses were now chatting while having a cup of decaf nectar on Aphrodite's home, Cloud Nine. Little Eris was seated on her pink play-mat between them playing with the golden apple that Persephone and Hades had given her at her Birth Celebration.

'Wow..' Persephone smirked as the tiny red-skinned goddess babbled happily to herself rolling the apple around the floor. '-she really likes that thing doesn't she?'

'Oh yeh..' Aphrodite sounded nodding vigorously. '-she hasn't let it out of her sight since Hades gave it to her..' She sighed then lent down and ruffled her daughter's blonde curls, Eris didn't seem to notice her mother's fussing but squealed out as her apple rolled out of reach. Aphrodite rolled her large blue eyes then shook her head at her daughter's distressed features and picked her up off the floor. Big tears began to form in Eris' eyes and Aphrodite knew a tantrum was brewing.

'Alright, alright, don't throw a wobbly sheesh..' She groaned then retrieved the golden apple and handed it to her daughter, the tears stopped instantly and the red-skinned godling giggled happily and gummed the stalk.

'She's certainly a handful, isn't she?' Persephone commentated as Eris flashed her a contented smile.

'Nightmare more like..' Aphrodite sighed heavily suddenly looking tired. 'Harmonia was never this stroppy..' The Goddess of Love remembered how her other daughter had been as a baby, such a quiet peaceful child. Harmonia too looked like her mother except with lilac skin, pink hair and brown eyes. The young Goddess of Peace was fifty three in mortal years and today she was on the surface with her dragon-slaying boyfriend Cadmus, leaving her mother to deal with her bratty little sister alone.

'Maybe it'll get easier as she grows up.' Persephone shrugged and Aphrodite hummed thoughtfully at her words.

'Maybe..' She finally agreed while brushing a loose curl back off Eris' face. '-she can't be any worse than Ares, heh.. Hera told me he was absolute horror..' Persephone giggled amused, she could just picture a godling Ares whacking everything and everyone with a toy sword.

'Have you and Hades thought about having kids?' Aphrodite suddenly asked making Persephone blink, thrown by the question.

'Yeh, we've talked about it but Hades thinks we don't have the time for them..' The young goddess then mentally kicked herself.. Oh shoot, why did I say that…

'And what do you think?' Aphrodite asked bouncing Eris on her knee causing the red-skinned godling to clutch her golden apple tighter and frown at this new movement her mother was putting her through.

'I dunno, I guess we're both kinda busy..' She shrugged unsurely but Aphrodite merely smiled knowingly, recognising the signs of desire in Persephone's eyes.

'-but it doesn't stop you wanting one.' The Goddess of Love finished Persephone's sentence for her.

For a long moment there was silence as the goddesses regarded each other, Persephone with slight embarrassment while Aphrodite merely looked on and mused.

Ok, so she wouldn't have picked the grouchy, flame-haired god as a potential husband for Persephone but she had to admit after seeing them together on Olympus, the Goddess of Love could see how keen they were on each other… and if this helped Hades find some inner peace it was a bonus. But picturing him as a father? Personally she didn't think the god would make a good father figure.. but then she hadn't thought he would make great husband material either and he'd proved her wrong.

'I guess it's just a silly fantasy, huh?' Persephone shrugged carelessly causing the Goddess of Love to blink then shake her head roughly at these words.

'Ok Seph, here's the scoop..' Aphrodite finally sounded clutching Persephone's fingers in her one free hand. '-if you really want kids then you gotta talk to Hades and find out how he truly feels about it, and if he does want kids then you shouldn't let your jobs get in the way..'

Persephone suddenly smiled feeling like a weight had been lifted off her heart… she should chat to other girls more often. Suddenly this thought made her remember about the minion interviews she was supposed to be dealing with.

'Oh my days, I am so lame and waaay behind schedule..' The white-skinned goddess then bounced to her feet. 'I gotta bail on you Aphrodite but thank you so much..' She added. '-this was just what I needed..'

'Hey no problem Seph, you should come and see us more often..' Aphrodite said holding her baby girl more securely. Persephone smiled widely at them both before vanishing out in a swirl of orbs to go salvage her disrupted schedule.

It was very late in the evening when Persephone finally arrived back home in the Underworld exhausted but very pleased with the days results… not only had she hired herself some brand new minions but she had managed to wangle herself a domain of her very own too. Wasn't her little flame in for a surprise… mind you, she had to find her wayward husband first.

When Persephone couldn't find Hades in the throne room she headed for his study thinking that he had decided to finish off the Underworld Audit. The goddess frowned confused when he wasn't in his study… where could he have gone?

Finally after searching the large house they shared Persephone found her husband in the den. He was snoozing in his black bony Lay-Zee God slouching chair that he usually occupied when channel surfing through Tartarus Vision. Except instead of the T.V. remote in his lap there sat a reading scroll which rolled and fell on the floor as the fiery grunted and shifted in his sleep. Persephone picked up the scroll and unfurled it reading the title: Eternal Torment for Dummies. She rolled her eyes at this, Hades must have been looking for new ways to strike terror into the imps lives..

Persephone tilted her head slightly finding the sleepy little smile that crossed her husband's face so sweet. She wondered vaguely what he was dreaming about as she perched on the edge on his chair and ruffled his flames playfully. The next moment Hades began to shift restlessly and his serene smile twisted into a pained grimace.

'No.. leave me alone..' He suddenly moaned causing alarm to cross Persephone's face, she then clutched his chiton anxiously as he whimpered fearfully. Three whole years of marriage and those nightmares of the Vortex of Fire were still plaguing his sleep. Concerned for her husband's mental state Persephone had sought advice from Phantosis the God of Dreams. According to the youngest son of Hypnos, dreams were merely a way for the mind trying to deal with unresolved issues and that if Hades wanted the nightmares to stop he simply had to deal with his fears. Persephone however had soon found that it was easier said than done… the Lord of the Underworld had developed a knack of managing to skirt around his fear of water and showed no intentions of wanting to conquer it anytime soon.

'Hades!' Persephone sounded shaking him roughly. 'Sweetie wake up..'

The fiery god's eyes snapped open, fear welling up in them causing Persephone to cradle his head to her bosom and stroke his face lovingly as her husband calmed down.

'Seph, it was friggin' awful..' Hades sounded clutching his wife close. '-and I swear one of the souls had a pitchfork this time..'

'Oh Hades..' The white-skinned goddess sounded gently kissing his forehead. '-you know these dreams are a manifestation of your fear of water-'

Unbeknown to the two deities Hecate's wolves had been watching the whole time from a secluded hiding-place nearby.

'Hello..' One of the wolves sounded.

'This sounds just like the kind of information Hecate needs..' His brother added with a jagged leer at the two rulers of the Underworld. The two wolves then sneaked out of the room careful not to draw attention to themselves.

'-if you want them to stop all you have to do is confront your fear..'

'Persephone..' Hades sounded seriously pulling away from his wife so he could look her in the eyes. '-I admit I have a problem.. I'm just not ready to deal with it yet, capeesh?' The fiery god then sat up and stretched, trying to get rid of some of the stiffness in his joints.

'But sweetie..' Her green eyes filled with concern.

'I said 'capeesh'..' Hades added flashing his wife a look that clearly said 'don't argue with me'.

'Fine..' She sighed heavily then pouted irritably folding her arms… he was never going to get rid of these stupid dreams at this rate.

Hades didn't notice her scowl.

'So…' The fiery god sounded conversationally slumping back into his seat and manifested himself a cup of hot coffee out of a whirl of smoke. '-how'd it go with Bolt Boy then? Did he listen to ya or do his usual fake-an-interest-then-wave-you-off routine?' Hades frowned in memory of the amount of times Zeus had waved his opinion off, he still hated the smug git and avoided Olympus as much as he could.

'He did better than that..' Persephone sounded instantly perking up and flashing a girly smile at her husband who raised one eyebrow curiously as he took a swig of coffee. '-check this out.' She added pulling a scroll out of a swirl of orbs and passing it to Hades.

The fiery god took the scroll with mild interest expecting it just to be a written note from Hermes, the Council Scribe, detailing the meeting briefly. His brows then shot up as he read the first of two scrolls… by the time he'd finished reading it his eyes were wide with shock.

'Holy Nyx! He just gave you the Elysian Fields?' The fiery god blinked several times in disbelief before the smirk reappeared on his face. 'Heh, ya must've really pulled the clouds over his eyes babe… whatcha do? Bribe him?'

'No!' Persephone shook her head fiercely. 'I just explained to him that I didn't get enough reincarnation work and suggested a way to incorporate it in here..' She tapped the scroll before continuing. '-and Zeus approved and signed over the deeds to me..' She then pulled the Deeds to the Elysian Fields out from behind the first scroll, her name was down as the proprietor of the domain. '-he says as long as it remains a paradise for souls I can do what I like with it.'

Hades was too stunned to speak, Zeus never just signed things over… and how many times had he tried to get the Elysian Fields and been refused? He'd actually once tried to win it in a bet, which he lost thanks to Hercules.. But along comes his smart, beautiful wife and, bam! Bolt Boy just gives up the goods.. The fiery god then became aware of Persephone's voice..

'Oh isn't it wonderful Hades..' She sounded dreamily clasping her hands together. '-the entire Underworld is under our rule..'

It took a long time for the drachma to drop with the fiery god.. The entire Underworld is under our rule… our rule… our rule.. He then dropped his now empty coffee mug as his brain caught the gist of what she was saying. They ruled the Underworld together, what was his was hers so that also meant.. what was hers was also his! He really was the Ruler of the entire Underworld now..

Hades' blue flames rippled over him as excitement and pride swelled in his chest, his yellow eyes then snapped onto his wife who was smiling at him, echoing the affection he felt for her.

'Oh Seph I freakin' love you!' He practically bellowed and swept his wife into his arms and kissed her passionately. For a long moment they remained embraced before Hades pulled away and twirled his wrist causing the deeds to the rest of the Underworld to appear out of smoke, he then pulled a stapler out of nowhere and attached Persephone's deed to the pile feeling an immense sense of satisfaction at the clicking noise… he'd waited a few millennium just to hear that sound..

Persephone merely smiled as she watched her husband attach the Elysian Fields to the rest of the Underworld documents. She kept her arms wrapped around his chest and lent her head sleepily against his shoulder, the effects of a busy days work were finally starting to have an effect on her. The young goddess then yawned and nuzzled into him. Hades merely smiled wrapping an arm around his wife as the documents vanished again.

'Hey, I forgot to ask ya..' He sounded gently, suddenly remembering about the minion interviews. '-who did ya eventually hire onto the underworld payroll?'

Persephone blinked sleepily trying hard to stay awake and failing.

'Huh…' She yawned again. '-Oh, you can meet them tomorrow sweetie, they're coming down for orientation and I want them to meet the imps since they'll be working so closely together..' Hades merely nodded making a mental note to inform his two moronic minions before sweeping his scarcely conscious wife into his arms.

'Alright missy, it's bedtime for you..' He smirked amused and Persephone sighed pleasantly practically drifting off in his arms as he got up and carried her to their room.

Little notes:

Hey Peeps and Peepettes, I've been on this sight for nearly a year now and my writing has come so far since I first started out… it's hard to believe that P.o.P was barely planned out at all but unfortunately this story requires a little more effort in the planning stacks just so the writing of this story matches up to it's predecessor… hope your all enjoying the extra effort I'm putting into it for you!

Yay, Cerberus is back… I love that dog! Those who watch the series will have noticed that Cerberus is like a Rottwiller pup in it while in the film he's more like a Doberman, I chose the series design because he was so adorably cute and that's the way I wanted him to come across.

I wonder if any of you have figured out who Seph's new minions are yet, those who remember your Greek history might remember them… how do you think the imps will react to their new co-partners? Only one way to find out!

Take care…

Love… Ditzy xXx